Box Score

OMAHA, Neb. – The Northern State University Wolves took their third and final lead of the night at the 16:38 mark of the first half, but never let the host Creighton University Bluejays pull out of sight, falling by a 12-point margin 79-67 in front of 14,251 fans Thursday night to the Division I Bluejays in preseason exhibition men's basketball action.

The contest was NSU's second in the past three days, as the Wolves also fell by eleven to the University of Oklahoma on Tuesday.

NSU led briefly after scoring the night's first bucket on a Derek Hoellein jumper.  The Wolves also led 4-2 and 6-5 before the Jays gained control for good using a 6-0 run.  CU pushed the lead to nine with just under five minutes to play, but the Wolves cut that lead to just four with 1:22 left in the half.  NSU put together a 7-2 mini run of their own to cut into the Bluejay advantage.

The Jays, however, answered right back with a three-pointer from Jahenns Manigat and a pair of free throws from Doug McDermott to go into the halftime break back up by nine at 33-24.

NSU made another push early in the second half, slicing an 11-point Creighton advantage to just three.  Hoellein and newcomer David Lane drained back-to-back treys, and Lane followed with a driving lay-up to make it a one-possession contest at 35-32 with 18:08 left to go.

That, however, would be as close as the Wolves would get, as the Bluejays regained control and held at least a two-possession cushion the remainder of the way.  Despite the point deficit, the Wolves did not lead the Creighton advantage get out of sight.  NSU won the battle of points off turnovers, second chance points and fast break points in both halves, but had no answer for Creighton's post play.  CU scored 44 of their 79 points in the paint compared to just 26 for the Wolves.

NSU got a 16-point, 10-rebound advantage from sophomore forward Collin Pryor, while Hoellein added 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range.  Newcomer Tom Parks was also 3-for-5 from downtown and finished with nine points, while Aberdeen native Jared Hannigan handed out four assists and two steals while committing just two turnovers in 26 minutes off the bench.

The Bluejays were led by McDermott, who also came off the Creighton bench to score 18 points and snag seven rebounds.  McDermott was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line.  As a team, the Jays connected on 21 of 26 attempts from the stripe.  Antoine Young added 16 points for the Jays.

The Wolves return home briefly before hitting the road for their third and final exhibition game next Tuesday.  NSU takes on Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. in the Don Meyer Classic.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday.