Bethany, Okla. – In the 2016-17 season opener, the Northern State University men's basketball team defeated Southern Nazarene 91-88 in the first meeting between the two teams. The Wolves improved to 1-0 after a 49 point first half made the difference.
The two teams played back and forth basketball through most of the 40 minutes with the Wolves tallying 49 points in the first and 42 points in the second, and the Crimson Storm notching 46 points in the first and 42 points in the second. A total of 14 tie scored occurred in the match-up with the Wolves taking the upper hand in the final minutes of action. The two teams were tied at 76-all with 5:21 on the board.
Carter Evans took the lead for NSU which would hold through free-throw game as the clock ticked down.
Mack Arvidson led five players in double digits with a season high 20 points. The senior added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while shooting 55.6% from the floor and 62.5% from the 3-point line.
DJ Pollard and Evans followed with 16 points each, while Evans tallied a team second best seven rebounds. Pollard was one of three Wolves with a team leading three assists, alongside
Justin Decker and
Braxton Elliott. Decker notched a team third best 13 points, matched by
Logan Doyle with 13 of his own. Doyle also led the team with eight rebounds.
Ian Smith and Elliott rounded out the team total with nine and four points respectively. Pollard and Doyle tallied the teams two blocks in the 40 minutes of action as the Wolves knocked down 28-of-54 from the floor. The Wolves notched 32 points in the paint and tallied 20 points off 14 turnovers and 11 points off seven offense rebounds.
The Wolves battled holding the Storm to a 41.4 field goal percentage in the second and 66.7% shooting percentage from the foul line. NSU out-rebounded SNU 35-29 in the game and knocked down a total of 28 foul line shots.
Northern will return to action tomorrow versus Harding University. The Wolves and Bison will tip-off at 3 p.m. from Bethany.
