The Northern State men couldn't overcome U-Mary's hot shooting night as the Wolves fell on the road, 80-76 Saturday night. The Wolves had five score in double figures and shot 50 percent from the floor, but the Marauders mad 55.6 percent of its shots in the game and were led by Chris Mason's 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting.

The first half was a close battle as neither team gained much of an advantage, NSU (13-3, 7-3 NSIC) held as much as a six-point lead in the half while the Marauders (4-10, 2-8 NSIC) led by as many as eight and carried a 36-32 lead into halftime.

The second half, Mary shot an incredible 16-of-25 (64 percent) from the field and made 4-of-8 from three-point range and controlled much of the half, leading the entire way and by as many as 10 points on two occasions. The Wolves however, much like they have all season, did not go away without a fight in the second half and tied the game at 71-71 with 2:27 left to play on a Darin Peterka three pointer. The Marauders took a five-point lead with 12 second left to play before Peterka's three made it 78-76 with just four seconds left in the game. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Bryan Jefferson was able to break free for a breakaway dunk with under a second left to play to put Mary up by four.

Skye Warwick led Northern with 14 points in the loss while Seth Bachand, Peterka and Tydan Storrusten each had 13 points. Bachand also recorded his fifth double-double of the season as he grabbed a game-high 10 boards and recorded a career-high seven assists in the game. Storrusten added three dimes and four steals in the loss. DJ Pollard was the other player in double figures for the Wolves as he chipped in with 12, Spencer Pankonin added nine off the bench.

The Wolves' bench was outscored 28-24 in the contest but NSU held a 32-26 edge in points in the paint. The big difference in the game came on points off turnovers as Mary scored 21 on 12 Northern turnovers while the Wolves scored 13 on 14 Marauder mistakes. Both teams finished with six fast break points and 26 rebounds apiece in the contest. NSU held a 13-7 advantage in second-chance points in the loss.

Northern closes its four game road trip next weekend as it travels to face Southwest Minnesota at 8 p.m. Friday and will close with Sioux Falls in a 6 p.m. contest Saturday. The Wolves defeated Southwest 93-88 in overtime earlier this season in non-conference action in Aberdeen.