Box Score | Box Score (.pdf)

Six Wolves scored in double-figures as Northern State held on for an 88-84 win Friday night over Minot State to improve to 6-2 overall and even its NSIC record to 1-1.

In what was a long, slugfest of a contest, the two teams combined to shoot 91 free throws, had four foul-outs and 59 total fouls total. Northern hit 31-of-42 from the line (73.8 percent) while Minot State (5-1, 1-1 NSIC) made 41-of-49 from the stripe (83.7 percent).

Tydan Storrusten went 11-for-12 from the free-throw line and scored a team-high 15 points in the win. Jared Hannigan scored 14 and went 4-for-7 from three-point range in just 18 minutes of action due to foul trouble.

Darin Peterka added 12 points, seven rebounds and a team-best four assists in the game. Skye Warwick chipped in with 11 points while Mitch White and Trent Zomer each added 10. Zomer also pulled down seven boards and had a pair of blocks against the Beavers.

Northern shot 48 percent in the victory while Minot shot 43.5 percent from the floor. The big difference in the game was the Wolves' three-point shooting as NSU made 11-of-24 from deep (45.8 percent) while holding Minot to just three made from beyond the arc on 13 attempts (23.1 percent.)

The Wolves controlled most of the first half as they led for all but three minutes of the opening period and held an 11-point lead heading into the break, 40-29.

After expanding its lead to 42-29 early in the second half, the Beavers caught fire and went on an 18-0 run that spanned over four minutes and took a 47-42 lead with 14:53 to play in the game. The Wolves responded after trailing 59-52 with 11 minutes to play by going on a 16-2 run of their own and led 68-61 with 6:18 to play.

Although Minot State tied it a couple of times the rest of the half, Northern didn't relinquish its lead the rest of the game and made 11-of-12 free throws the final 1:31 of the game to hold on for the victory. Those 11 free throws were the only points scored for the Wolves after a Seth Bachand layup put NSU up 77-75 with 2:25 to play.

Northern returns to action Saturday as it completes its North Dakota trip with a contest against U-Mary at 6 p.m.