Aberdeen, S.D. – In the 2016-17 home opener, the Northern State University men's basketball team fell to Southwest Minnesota State 83-82. The Wolves dropped to 1-2 overall after the non-conference match-up with the Mustangs.
It was a back and forth, physical basketball game with a total of 12 tie scores throughout. Northern led 39-37 at the half, however gave up 46 points to their 43 in the second, making the difference in the game. The Wolves shot 62.2% from the floor, 30.0% from the arc, and 76.7% from the foul line, while the Mustangs shot 58.9% from the floor, 37.5% from the arc, and 77.8% from the foul line. NSU notched 44 points in the paint and out-rebounded the Mustangs 31-27, however gave up 27 points off 21 turnovers and six second chance buckets.
DJ Pollard led the team with 20 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the foul line. Pollard also notched five defensive boards and one assist. He was followed closely by
Logan Doyle with 19 points off the bench and five rebound as well.
Mack Arvidson and
Ian Smith rounded out the players in double-digits with 15 and 14 points respectively.
Justin Decker led the team with eight rebounds, while adding four points of his own. Smith and Arvidson led the team with two assists each, while
Carter Evans recorded two of the team's three blocks. Evans scored five of the team's 82 points, while
Braxton Elliott and
Cole Dahl rounded out the total with three and two respectively.
Each team recorded three made 3-point buckets, while the Wolves out-scored the Mustangs from the foul line 23-14. Arvidson took the one point lead for the Wolves with one minute remaining on the clock, however the Mustangs quickly regained the lead with a pair of made free throws. Northern chipped away baskets by both Pollard and Smith, but the late game foul shots by the Mustangs sealed the victory.
Next up for the Wolves is a pair of non-conference road games at Chadron State and Black Hills State on Friday and Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. each day against the Eagles and Yellow Jackets.
