ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State won it's seventh straight game on Saturday night, downing Bemidji State 79-55 in their final home game of the regular season.  The day celebrated "I Hate Winter" and alumni night.  The Wolves play their final regular season game on the road at the University of Mary next Saturday evening.  NSU improves to 24-2 on the year and 15-2 in the NSIC.  Bemidji is 6-19 overall and 3-13 in the NSIC.

The Wolves heated up Wachs Arena, shooting 51.7% from the field.  It took them 12 game minutes to go up by double figures over the Beavers.  Their largest lead of the half was 16 points, reached just before halftime.  Northern received nine points from Kevin Ratzsch and eight from Robert Thomas, while the squad pitched in to out-rebound the Beavers 24-15.  BSU shot 34.5% in the half to NSU's 53.3%.

Northern hit half of their field goals in the second half to push their lead to as many as 24 points.  Derek Hoellein added another set of three-point shots in the second half to finish the game with 14 points.  Thomas also had 14 points for the Wolves after shooting 6-of-8 from the field.  He led his team with seven rebounds.  Ratzsch had 11 final points and five boards, while Levi Hamilton had ten points.

The Beavers had three players finish in double figures for scoring.  Patrick Cassidy had 16 points and five rebounds, followed by Seth Haake with 13 points.  Brady Fairbanks hit a trio of three-pointers and finished the night with 12 points.  Bemidji State was out-rebounded 43-29 on the night.  They shot 34.5% from the field.

The game was the last regular season home game for five NSU seniors.  Northern has secured a home game in the first round of the NSIC Tournament by placing 2nd in the league standings.  The game will be on March 1 with their opponent to be determined.