Box Score
ABERDEEN, S.D. – After watching as much as a 13-point lead dissipate into a 1-point deficit with less than eight minutes left in the game, the Northern State University men's basketball squad escaped with a 68-64 victory over Upper Iowa University Saturday evening to take their first 2-game weekend sweep since Dec. 12-13.
The win lifted NSU to 17-5 overall and 10-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, while the visiting Peacocks fell to 4-18 overall and 3-12 in league action after dropping their fourth straight game and their ninth in their last 13 tries.
The Wolves led by as many as 13 early in the first half but watched as a 9-0 run by the Peacocks turned a 10-point lead into just a 1-point game with 11:57 left to play in the game. UIU then snagged their first lead since the opening minutes of the game at the 7:48 mark when sophomore forward Chris Sullivan put back his own miss to give the Peacocks the 54-53 edge.
NSU responded with a 3-point play by junior forward
Robert Thomas (Mankato, Minn.) to regain the lead with 6:35 left on the clock. The Peacocks, however, would not give up, as they forced two more ties, the last coming with 1:40 left to play before the Wolves came up with key baskets and rebounds on both ends of the court to preserve the win.
Sophomores
Derek Hoellein (Eureka, S.D.) and
Brett Newton (Tyler, Minn.) converted on three straight free throws in the game's final 30 seconds to seal the deal for the Wolves.
Senior
Kevin Ratzsch (Bloomington, Ill.) and junior
Mitch Boeck (Arlington, S.D.) led all scorers with 18 points apiece. Boeck drained 4 of 10 three pointers on the night in his effort, while Thomas joined in the double figure efforts with 11 points.
The Wolves fought through a tough shooting night, going just 23 of 53 (43.4 percent) from the floor on the night and just 6 of 20 (30.0 percent) from 3-point range. The Peacocks fared only slightly better, finishing the night at a 43.6 percent clip (24-for-55) from the floor and 33.3 percent (4 of 12) on long balls.
Sophomore Matt Lesan led the way for the Peacocks with 16 points, while senior Nick Kramer added 11 and Storm Schmitt chipped in 10 off the bench.
The Wolves have just five regular season games left on the 2008-09 slate, playing four of those five on the road beginning next weekend. NSU will travel to Bismarck, N.D. to face the University of Mary, a team the Wolves beat 82-62 on Jan. 10. Tip-off for that contest is scheduled for 8 p.m.
