Bethany, Okla. – The Northern State University men's basketball team fell to Harding University 93-69 in a neutral site game Saturday afternoon. The Wolves move to 1-1 on the year and will return to the Midwest to continue non-conference play.
 
The Wolves and Bison traded baskets throughout the opening minutes of the first half, however Harding went on a 13-2 run mid-way through the half which held through the remainder of the game. Northern scored 30 points in the first, and 39 points in the second while the Bison notched 41 points in the first, and 52 points in the second.
 
Ian Smith led the Wolves with 20 points and ten rebounds in his first double-double of the season. Smith hit eight free throws and added a team leading three assists. Mack Arvidson also notched double-digit points with 13 in the game, adding two assists and one steal.
 
DJ Pollard, Carter Evans, and Logan Doyle each tallied eight points, while Braxton Elliott notched seven. Elliott was second on the team with six rebounds, while Pollard and Doyle each tallied five.  Northern shot 37.9% from the floor and 81.3% from the foul line as a team. The Wolves tallied 32 points in the paint. 16 points off turnovers, and 19 second change points.
 
Northern suffered 17 team turnovers, which resulted in 25 Bison scores in the game making what would be the largest difference in the 40 minutes of play. The Wolves however out-rebounded the Bison 39-30 and notched 15 more second chance points.
 
The Wolves will return home Tuesday in the 2016-17 home opener from Wachs Arena. NSU will match-up with Southwest Minnesota State in a non-conference game beginning at 8 p.m., following the women's game with Black Hills State.