Aberdeen, S.D. – In their first contest after the holiday break, the Northern State University men's basketball team came away with a 76-75 victory over Concordia-St. Paul from Wachs Arena. With the win, the Wolves improve to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in league action, tallying their first victory over an NSIC south opponent.
 
The game was a physical battle to say the least, with 38 fouls between the two teams and strong play in the paint. The Wolves shot 37.9 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from the arc, while the Golden Bears tallied a 48.2 mark from the floor and shot at a 50.0 percent clip from the 3-point line.
 
Northern however bested Concordia on the boards with 45 rebounds to the Golden Bears 35. The Wolves tallied a season high 20 second chance points off 19 offensive boards in the win. NSU also tallied 32 points in the paint, 28 points off the bench, and 11 points off turnovers.
 
Ian Smith led three scorers in double figures with 18 points, hitting 6-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the foul line. The sophomore tallied nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal as well. Mack Arvidson was second on the team with 17 points, knocking down four long range buckets and adding three assists.
 
Logan Doyle led the team on the boards with a season second best 15 rebounds. He also added 14 points in his second double-double of the season. The junior added to his solid performance, dishing out a team leading four assists and blocking two Golden Bear shots.
 
DJ Pollard and Bo Fries followed with nine points each, while Pollard tallied six rebounds and Fries added three. Gabe King added the final points off the bench with five, while starters Justin Decker and Carter Evans tallied two points apiece. Pollard notched the team's third block of the game while eight Wolves tallied multiple rebounds in the game.
 
NSU will return to action tomorrow, as they 'Slam into 2017' against Minnesota State. Game time is set for 6 p.m. with the first 300 fans receiving free New Years party hats and blowouts.