BOX SCORE
2007-08 NSIC TOURNAMENT BRACKETS
BISMARCK, N.D. - The Northern State Wolves out-rebounded the University of Mary Marauders (8-19, 5-13 NSIC) 58-20 en route to a victory in their final game of the 2007-08 regular season as they defeated the University of Mary Marauders by a final of 72-50. With the win, the Wolves improve their regular season record to 25-2 and finish 16-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Northern State will host MSU Moorhead next Saturday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. in the first round of the NSIC Tournament.
This win also caps an eight game regular season winning streak dating back to January 26, 2008. The Wolves started early with a 27-11 start in the first 12 minutes of the contest and never looked back. They shot 40.4% in the contest but held the Marauders to 31.6% shooting for the game.
The Marauders opened the game with the first basket of the contest but the Wolves followed by a 14 point run of their own. The two teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half as the Marauders closed the half with a 9-4 run to close the gap to 12. The Wolves held a 39-27 at the break. Leading the charge for the Wolves in the first half was senior guard Luke Wicks who finished with 11 points off of a 4-5 shooting performance. Wicks also sank all three of his shots from beyond the arc. The Wolves out shot the Marauders 42.9% to 33.3% and also out rebounded them 29-13.
As the second half opened the two teams continued to trade baskets back and forth. The Marauders could not seem to muster up a comeback. The Wolves then finished the game strong as they held to Marauders to just five points in the last seven minutes as they scored 13 of their own to solidify the victory. In the second half, the Wolves struggled shooting, notching a 36.4%, but their defense played well, holding the Marauders to 29.6% shooting from the field and 18.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
In the contest, the Wolves picked up 58 rebounds to the Marauders 20 including collecting 22 offensive rebounds to the Wolves' seven.
Leading the Wolves was Wicks who finished with 14 points including a 3-4 performance from the three point line. Sophomore center Robert Thomas finished the game with 12 points including a perfect 6-6 performance from the free throw line and 11 rebounds to cap off his double-double. Junior Kevin Ratzsch rounded out the double digit scoring for the Wolves as he finished 12 points and also collected eight rebounds. Senior forward Levi Hamilton also added nine points and nine rebounds in the victory.
Leading the offensive production for the Marauders was guard Geoff West who finished with 14 points off of a 6-11 shooting performance. West was the lone player to finish with double figures for a team that simply struggled on the offensive side of the ball.
