Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Northern State University senior Mitch Boeck drained the first basket of the game to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead out of the gates.  Forty minutes later, he drained the last basket of the game to give the Wolves a 67-65 victory over host Bemidji State University, snapping a season-long road funk in the process and giving NSU its first road win and first win away from the Barnett Center.

The Wolves, behind 23 total points from Boeck and three total players in double figures, moved to 6-9 on the season and 2-5 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play, sliding up two spots in the standings with the win.  BSU, meanwhile, slipped to 5-10 overall and 2-7 in league action.

In a game that featured 12 ties, 10 lead changes and zero double-digit leads by either team, the Wolves overcame 16 turnovers and poor free throw shooting for the second straight game to claim the win.  For their part, Bemidji State turned those NSU miscues into 18 points, while turning the ball over just seven times themselves.  NSU also misfired on seven free throw attempts, including three straight late in the game, and finished just 11 of 18 from the line, good for 61.1 percent.

After building as much as an eight-point lead midway through the second half, the Wolves allowed the Beavers back to an even draw at 63-all with just over two minutes left in the game.  An Alex Thomas tip-in of a Derek Hoellein 3-point attempt put the Wolves back on top at 65-63 with a minute and a half left to go before the Beavers handed the Wolves a golden opportunity to make it a two possession ball game.

The Beavers failed to convert a 3-point attempt from Jake Lindstrom, then sent the Wolves to the free throw line for a pair of shots with a foul in the Wolves' backcourt with under a minute left.  NSU, however, could not connect on either free throw attempt, leaving the door open for the Beavers and sophomore Bryce Tysdahl – BSU's third leading scorer on the season – to tie the game with a lay-up.

Left with 24 seconds on the clock to find the game-winning shot, the Wolves first looked to go inside, but the ball was knocked away and out of bounds with under six seconds to go.  NSU then looked to the senior Boeck, who took the inbounds pass and shook off a pair of defenders before pulling up for a 10-foot jump shot from the middle and found nothing but the bottom of the net.

Bemidji State's 75-foot desperation heave at the buzzer bounced harmlessly away as time ran out, leaving the Wolves with the hard-fought victory.

The buzzer-beater marks the second time in two seasons that the Wolves have beaten the Beavers with a last-second shot.  Both shots have come off the hands of Boeck, who banked in a 3-pointer to lift NSU to a dramatic 73-70 non-conference win last season as part of the NSIC HoopsFest in Sioux Falls, S.D.

In addition to Boeck's game-best 23-point effort, the Wolves got 13 points and six assists from junior point guard Jordan King, making his first start of the season.  King – who did not commit a turnover in 31 minutes of court time – and Boeck combined for five of the Wolves six 3-pointers on the night.

Redshirt freshman Collin Pryor just missed his second career double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds.  Reserve center Marko Filipovic also had six boards off the bench for the Wolves, who claimed a slight 34-31 edge in rebounds.

The Beavers also had three players in double figures, led by senior Seth Haake with 18.  Lance Rongstad added 13, while Tysdahl chipped in 11.

NSU will have little time to celebrate the victory as they are back on the court on Saturday at Minnesota Duluth.  The Bulldogs are coming off a 74-69 upset victory over the University of Mary on Friday.  Tip-off for Saturday's contest is set for 8 p.m.