BOX SCORE
WINONA, Minn. – The Northern State men's basketball team became the 2008 NSIC Tournament runners-up on Saturday evening. Their season troubles with Winona State continued at McCown Gymnasium in the title game, as Winona State held the Wolves to a season low 29.4% shooting in a 73-40 loss. Winona State improves to 32-1 overall while the Wolves take their third loss of the season and fall to 27-3. They will continue their season at the North Central Region Tournament next weekend. The NCAA selection show will be aired on Sunday evening at 9:30 p.m. on www.ncaa.com to announce the final field of eight to advance to the NCAA tournament.
Home court advantage kicked in for the Warriors early on as Winona State went up 12-4 following a John Smith steal and resulting Travis Whipple fast break layup. The Wolves turned the ball over four times in the first ten minutes, but gained control over their nerves to get into the game. Robert Thomas scored the team's next six points as the Warriors went off the mark and the score tightened to a single possession.
Three-point shooting was not a factor in the first 18 minutes of play, but became the X-factor in the final two minutes of the half. The Warriors canned the triple on four straight trips down the floor, including a buzzer-beater that gave Winona a 14-0 second half-ending run. Whipple hit three shots from beyond the arc and led the Warriors with 11 first half points. The Wolves did not score for the last four minutes of the half and went into the locker room down 35-18.
Winona State managed to disrupt the Wolves offense and force a 28.6% shooting average. The Warriors had their problems shooting at points in the first half, as well, but posted a 42.9% mark in the period. Winona committed just two turnovers to NSU's seven. Thomas was the first half scoring leader with seven of the team's season low 18 first half points.
The Warriors were stopped in their first possession of the second half, but then scored on eight straight trips down the floor to push the spread to 52-25 at the 13:44 mark. John Smith made his presence known in the paint, hitting jumpers and cleaning up WSU misses near the rim. The Wolves fell behind by 30 points with a Flowers free throw near the 12 minute mark and were never able to recover.
Northern was held to 29.4% shooting (15-51) from the field and just 18.2% from three-point range (2-11). They were led in scoring by Robert Thomas with 15 points. Thomas was the only NSU player to reach double figures on the night. He was named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team. Kevin Ratzsch, Luke Wicks and Craig Nelson each pulled down six rebounds to lead the team.
NSIC Tournament MVP John Smith led all players with 19 points. Curtrel Robinson came off the bench to add 15 points, while Travis Whipple was held scoreless in the second half but finished the game with 11 points. Quincy Henderson had 11 rebounds as the Warriors out-rebounded the Wolves 45-33. The team shot 42.9% from the field and had only four turnovers in the game.
2008 NSIC All-Tournament Team
MVP - John Smith, Winona State
Jonte Flowers, Winona State
Travis Whipple, Winona STate
Robert Thomas, Northern State
Jamar Diggs, Wayne State
