Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – After a frigid, sloppy first half, the Northern State University Wolves needed a blazing second half effort from someone if they were going to overcome a one-time 17-point deficit to the visiting Mayville State University Comets.  And they got it in the form of sophomore Collin Pryor and redshirt freshman Tydan Storrusten, who combined to score 29 of NSU's 53 second-half points and carry the Wolves to a 74-68 non-conference victory over the Comets.

NSU dug itself an early hole, committing 15 first-half turnovers and shooting just 39.1 percent from the field.  The Comets took advantage of the situation, turning the NSU miscues into 20 points off turnovers and stretching their lead to as many as 17 at 27-10 with 7:28 left in the half and heading into the break with a 35-21 advantage.

The Wolves cleaned it up and found their stroke in the second stanza, however, riding the hot hand of Storrusten and the complimentary inside game of Pryor back to the winning side of the scoreboard.  Storrusten scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including a trio of three-pointers between the 12-minute and 9-minute marks that ignited a 17-4 NSU run that put the Wolves squarely back in contention.

Senior Tom Parks also added a trey from the corner, while junior Alex Thomas scored on a pair of driving layups, as well.

After three pointers back and forth, NSU senior Marty Gregor broke a 60-60 tie with a pair of free throws – two of 12 the Wolves would attempt and make in the second period – to put the Wolves ahead for good with 6:26 left to play in the game.  Pryor added a lay-up off a David Lane offensive rebound and assist to make it a two-possession affair, and the Wolves converted on four of four free throws in the final 12 seconds to ice the game.

In stark contrast to the first half, NSU committed just two turnovers in the second half and handed out 12 assists.  The Wolves also attacked the lane as the outside game opened up the floor.  NSU scored 24 points in the pain in the second half.

Pryor finished with a game-best 23 points and 11 rebounds, 16 and 8 of which came in the second half.  The double-double effort marks his second straight.  Parks added eight points – all in the second half – while Lane finished with eight points and seven rebounds.

Mayville State's Savontae Samuels was 7 of 12 from the floor to finish with 20 points, but had eight of the Comets' 16 turnovers in the game.  Ross Aman added 14 points and Wiley Jiles put up 13.  Sean Greene added 12 points off the bench.

Now 4-0 on the season, the Wolves concluded the non-conference portion of the 2010-11 schedule and now look to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference slate, which begins next weekend.  NSU will take on Concordia-St. Paul on Friday and host St. Cloud State on Saturday.  Both games will tip off at 8 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contests.