Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball squad overcame a shaky start and a rough night from beyond the arc to fend off Black Hills State University Monday night to take an 81-74 win over the Yellow Jackets in exhibition basketball action.  In a game that was far from decided until the waning seconds, the Wolves used six free throws in the final 16 seconds of the game to salvage the victory.

NSU redshirt freshman Collin Pryor led four starters and five total players in double figures with 18 points and just missed a double-double performance with nine rebounds.  Luke Enos had a game-best 23 points for the Yellow Jackets, while also snagging 10 boards, also a game-high.

Monday's match-up was the first and only exhibition of the season for the Wolves and head coach Don Meyer, while the Yellow Jackets, who returned the core of last season's NAIA national tournament final four squad, entered the game with three games already under their belt.  BHSU, under the direction of NSU alum Paul Sather, was 2-1 in those early season contests.

The Wolves, who missed their first three shots of the contest, spotted the Yellow Jackets an early 5-0 lead and did not take their first lead of the contest until a Marty Gregor basket at the 12:29 mark of the first half.  BHSU, however, responded immediately with a 7-0 run to go back up by five at 21-16.

Following the game's second tie at 25-all, the Wolves then put together an 8-0 spurt that covered a four and a half minute span to build a 33-25 edge with just under two minutes to play in the half.

The Yellow Jackets again made sure the Wolves didn't get too far away, capitalizing on four free throw attempts sandwiched around a Clay Pottorff lay-up in the final 1:34 of the half to keep NSU in striking distance at 34-31 heading into the intermission.

The Wolves continued to hold a slim lead through the majority of the second half, briefly surrendering it after a Spencer Childress 3-pointer and a pair of Pottorff free throws at around the 3-minute mark.  NSU junior Derek Hoellein, however, drained one of his three treys on the night to forge the game's seventh and final tie at 71-all with 2:37 showing on the clock.

Pryor added a follow-up field goal following an offensive rebound to make it 73-71, as he, Hoellein and junior Brett Newton finished out the closing minutes of the game going 8-for-11 from the free throw line, giving the Wolves just enough to withstand a late BHSU push.

Cain Atkinson drained a fast-break trey to bring the Yellow Jackets back to within three at 74-71 with just 11 seconds remaining, but would get no closer.

NSU senior Mitch Boeck added 14 points for the Wolves, as did sophomore reserve guard Alex Thomas.  Hoellein went 3-for-6 from long range to finish with 13, while Newton added 10.  Boeck also had a game-best four assists.

Pottorff had 13 points for the Yellow Jackets, while Childress added 10.

The Wolves tip off the regular season on Nov. 17 with a 7 p.m. match-up with Jamestown College.