Box Score

WAYNE, Neb. – After giving up a 9-point advantage in the first half, the Northern State University Wolves used a 19-9 run to open the second half and clamber back into contention, but the Wolves were unable to hold on down the stretch despite a flurry of scoring from junior guard Derek Hoellein and just one team turnover in the second half, falling by a final score of 74-72 on the road to Wayne State College in Friday's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener.

The loss is the third straight for the Wolves, who are 3-0 at home, but have yet to win a game away from the Barnett Center.  NSU fell to an even 3-3 on the season and 0-1 in NSIC action, while the Wildcats moved to 2-4 overall and 1-0 with the conference-opening victory.

NSU kept things close early, trading leads with the Wildcats through the opening portions of the game.  The Wildcats, however, put the clamps down after Hoellein drained his second 3-pointer of the half with just over nine minutes left in the game, holding the Wolves scoreless for more than six minutes and without a field goal for more than seven minutes.

The Wolves committed four turnovers and missed two lay-ups during that drought, allowing the Wildcats to build the comfortable cushion heading into the break.

The second half, however, proved to be a different story, as the Wolves came out of the locker room with renewed purpose.  NSU scored nine straight points in a 2-minute span, tying the game at 47-all at the 14:41 mark and forcing a Wildcat timeout.  Hoellein sparked that run with yet another 3-pointer – one of his seven on the night – while redshirt freshman Collin Pryor and junior Marty Gregor scored back-to-back lay-ups to make it a brand new ballgame before the midway point of the stanza.

NSU would go on to build as much as a 7-point lead before the Wildcats regained their shooting touch to mount a comeback effort of their own.  After forcing the eight tie of the game with just under five minutes to play, WSC traded lay-ups and 3-pointers with the Wolves until a Brett Spiker lay-up put the Wildcats up 73-72 with 25 seconds showing on the clock.

The Wolves called a timeout to set up for the last shot of the game, but were unable to capitalize on a short shot, leaving the door open for the Wildcats to put the game away.  WSC, however, failed to slam the door completely shut on the Wolves, as Ryan Rudloff made just one of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left, leaving room for a long heave-ho at the buzzer.  That attempt, however, missed wide to the left, leaving the Wildcats with the slim victory.

NSU was led in scoring by a career-high 21 points from Hoellein, who was 7-of-12 from the floor, all from 3-point territory.  Senior Mitch Boeck added 18 points, 10 of which came in the first half.  Gregor and Pryor added 11 and 10, respectively, while junior Brett Newton dished out six assists.

WSC, meanwhile, relied heavily on Spiker, who poured in a career-best 27 points and snagged 11 rebounds, as the Wildcats posted a 33-26 edge on the boards on the night.

WSC also got themselves to the free throw line 26 times on the night, draining 19 of those attempts.  In contrast, the Wolves struggled from the line for the second straight game, shooting just 60 percent (9 of 15) for the game.

The Wolves will be back in action on Saturday as they take on Augustana College at the Elmen Center.  Tip-off for that contest, which will be aired live on Midcontinent Channel 23, is set for 7:05 p.m.  The host Vikings fell victim to the University of Mary on Friday night by a final score of 63-49.