Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves ran their season record at home to 4-0 Friday evening, snapping a 6-game losing skid with an 82-64 non-conference victory over Midland Lutheran College.  NSU used a trio of players in double figures, led by a 22-point effort from senior Mitch Boeck, to get the job done.

The Wolves moved to 4-6 on the season with the victory, while Midland Lutheran dropped their eighth straight decision and slipped to 2-13 overall.  All six of NSU's losses have come in road or neutral-site games.

In addition to Boeck's effort, the Wolves got a career-high 18 points off the bench from sophomore Alex Thomas, who was a solid 7-of-9 from the floor.  Thomas scored 13 of those points in the second half, hitting a trio of shots as the shot clock wound down.  Junior Derek Hoellein added 15 points on four 3-pointers.  Two of those treys came in the first two minutes of the game, helping the Wolves jump out to a quick 10-3 lead.

Despite the opening run, the Wolves could not hang on to the lead through the middle portions of the half.  MLC claimed its first lead at the 10:58 mark on a bucket and free throw from Zach Rosenboom.

NSU responded to re-take the lead – this time for good – on back-to-back buckets from Boeck with under five minutes to play in the half.  The Wolves closed out the half on a 6-0 run to take a 9-point cushion into the break.

Another 11-0 run to open the second stanza put the Wolves squarely in control of the game.  Junior Marty Gregor sparked the streak with a jumper just 14 seconds into the period, while Hoellein drained his only 3-point attempt of the half just seconds after snagging a steal to catapult the Wolves out of the gates.  The strong opening out of the break was a stark contrast to the Wolves' previous two games, which saw the Wolves give up the big run.

MLC used a series of back-door screens to cut the lead to as little as 15 points, but the Wolves were never seriously threatened throughout the period.

The Warriors got 17 points from Rosenboom and another 14 points from senior guard Justin Kulwicki.

NSU sophomore Casey Becker pulled down a career-best six rebounds and dished out a trio of assists in his first career start.  Becker was in the starting line-up in place of an injured Collin Pryor.  The Wolves were also without the services of junior point guard Brett Newton for the fourth straight game.  Sophomore Tramel Barnes handled the point guard duties in his stead, pulling down a career-best tying six rebounds to go along with his five points.

The Wolves are off for Christmas, but return to the court on Dec. 28 for a final non-conference game against Hastings College in a 7 p.m. tip-off.  NSU resumes Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Jan. 2 and 3, taking on Winona State and Upper Iowa.