Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Northern State University Wolves watched the visiting Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons erase an early 13-point deficit and another 5-point hole in overtime en-route to a 78-75 overtime victory over the Wolves on Friday night in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball action.

The loss, NSU's second straight one-possession set-back, drops the Wolves to 8-11 overall and 4-8 in conference play.  MSU Moorhead claimed just its second win in its last seven games and moved to 7-12 on the year and is now also 4-8 in league action.

The Wolves, who had won three of four and four of six heading into the weekend's action, built a commanding 13-point edge through the first ten minutes of play.  That run included a trio of three-pointers from senior Mitch Boeck and junior Derek Hoellein and was capped by back-to-back layups from junior point guard Jordan King at the 10:03 mark, forcing MSU Moorhead to call a 30-second timeout to regroup.

NSU kept its double-digit edge through the next four and a half minutes of play before the Dragons mounted a furious comeback effort in the final five minutes of the half to take a 31-30 lead into the break.  Sophomores Jake Driscoll and Brent Egan sparked the comeback effort by canning treys on four straight MSUM possessions.  Alex Novak added a lay-up and a pair of dunks while Driscoll capped the half with a pull-up jumper to put the Dragons on top 31-30.

MSUM carried that momentum into the second period as two more Driscoll treys rang home to give the Dragons a 7-point cushion before the Wolves fought their way back into the game with a flurry of layups and fast break opportunities. 

This time it was the Wolves who managed to turn a seven-point deficit into a seven-point advantage.  Sophomore forward Casey Becker closed out the NSU run with a high-flying fast-break lay-up off a King assist, forcing another Dragon timeout.  From there, the game turned into an all-out dog fight, as the teams traded free throws, three-pointers and three-point plays for the remainder of the half.

After a Dennis Williamson bucket and free throw put the Dragons up by three with 3:46 to play, NSU answered in the form of a Boeck trey at the 2:22 mark.  Egan then missed the front end of a 1-and-1 opportunity at the other end, and Williamson was unable to connect on the ensuing tip-in opportunity. 

The Wolves then took the ball down to the other end of the court and nearly ran out of time on the shot clock before Hoellein mis-fired on a contested 3-point shot.  Junior center Marty Gregor, was there to gather in the offensive rebound in traffic and stick the put-back.

MSUM then called another time-out and ran a play for a 3-pointer by Andrew Van Havermaet, but Boeck was there defensively to block the shot out of bounds.  The Dragons then forced the ball inside for Williamson, who was fouled in his way to the basket with 37 seconds left in regulation.  The 6-foot-6 sophomore sank both free throws to tie the game at 68-all, but left the Wolves with enough time showing to play for the final shot.

The Wolves, however, were unable to find an open or easy shot in that final possession, getting only an off-balance attempt from King that bounced into the hands of Novak as time ran out.

NSU came out firing in the overtime period.  Hoellein drained a trey from the left side and Gregor followed with an easy lay-up off a sly assist from redshirt freshman Collin Pryor.  Those, however, would be the only field goals the Wolves would get in the extra stanza, as they shot just 2 of 9 from the floor in the period.

MSU Moohead, meanwhile, cleaned up on the defensive glass and made enough free throws down the stretch to escape with the win.  The Wolves had opportunities at a lead change and a game-tying bucket in the waning moments of the stanza, but misfired on both attempts, leaving the Dragons with the thriller of a win.

Boeck led all scorers with 20 points, marking the third straight game the senior has hit the 20-point plateau.  Hoellein added 13 points, while Pryor chipped in 10.  Boeck and Hoellein combined for all nine of NSU's 3-pointers on the night, going a combined 9-for-23.  Meanwhile, King, in his fifth straight start for the Wolves, matched a career high with 10 assists and led the Wolves on the boards with seven.  He also had eight points and three steals.

Driscoll notched 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench to pace four Dragons in double figures.  Williamson finished with 15 points, while Novak added 13 points, five boards and three blocked shots.  Eagan added 10 points and a pair of steals off the bench.

The Wolves will have little time to reflect on Friday's missed opportunity, as they play host to the University of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday.  The Golden Eagles fell by a final count of 85-71 at the University of Mary on Friday.  Game time for Saturday's contest is set for 8 p.m.