Box Score Coach Sather's Post-Game Comments

ABERDEEN, S.D. - A night after cold free throw shooting cost the Wolves a heartbreaker of a game, it was solid free throw shooting that carried Northern State to a 74-60 win over league newcomer Sioux Falls on Saturday in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men's basketball action.

The Wolves move to 14-5 overall and 9-3 in NSIC play.  USF drops to 7-9 on the season and 3-9 in the loop.

Northern State posted a 58.8 percent shooting percentage on the night, including 6-for-8 from long range, and was 28-for-33 (84.8 percent) from the line in a game that featured a combined 45 fouls and 59 free throw attempts.

The Wolves also got key three-pointers from freshmen Skye Warwick and Mack Arvidson.  Arvidson hit back-to-back treys late in the first half to push NSU from a four-point lead to a ten-point advantage with 1:39 left in the half.  USF responded with four straight points, but a Warwick long ball at the buzzer pushed the lead back to nine heading into the break.

The Wolves stretched their advantage to 14 by the 16:14 mark on a dunk from sophomore Seth Bachand after he was left all alone under the bucket.  USF would get no closer than eight the rest of the way.

NSU senior Collin Pryor shared high scoring honors with Arvidson, scoring 15 of his 17 points on the night from the free throw line.  Arvidson was 3-for-4 from long range and also threw down a dunk in traffic in the second half, while going 4-for-4 from the line in a solid all-around game.  Senior Geoffrey Firmin added 11 points, also going 4-for-4 from the line.

USF was led by Daivd Maxwell's 14 points and another ten from James Rader, who scored six of his team's first ten points of the game.  Derek Brown, one of the league's top three-point shooters, was held to just eight points on 1-of-4 shooting from long range.

The Wolves return to the road for four straight starting next weekend at Minnesota, Crookston and Bemidji State.  Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.