Photo Gallery
Aberdeen, S.D. – The Barnett Center was electric, as the Northern State University Wolves defeated No. 1 Augustana University 90-81. The Wolves improve to 13-10 overall and 9-8 in league action, while handing the Vikings their first conference loss of the season.
 
The Wolves led all 40 minutes of play, beginning with a hot first half. Northern jumped out to a ten point lead mid-way through the first half and did not look back. NSU shot a staggering 61.8 percent from the floor and 56.3 percent from the arc in half number one. On the defensive side of the ball, they held the Vikings to a 43.8 percent mark from the floor and 26.7 percent mark from the 3-point line. Northern continued strong shooting in the final 20 minutes, shooting a season high 66.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Wolves ended the evening shooting 55.7 percent from field goal range and 59.1 percent from the 3-point line.
 
The staggering stats continued as the Wolves excelled on defense, holding Augustana leading scorer Daniel Jansen to just eight points in the game. Heading into the weekend Jansen was averaging 20.3 points on the year. Northern held Augie under their season average of 94.6 points per game, a league leading mark.
 
Skye Warwick led the Northern attack with 16 points, while shooting 7-of-9 from the floor. Darin Peterka followed close behind with 13 points, and added a team leading eight assists and two steals. DJ Pollard and Carter Evans each added 12 points to the team total, while Pollard tallied his first double-double of the season with a career high ten rebounds.
 
It was a team effort for the Wolves, as each of the nine players scored in the victory. Mack Arvidson and Spencer Pankonin led NSU from the bench with nine points apiece, while Michael Schreiber and Ian Smith knocked down seven and four points respectively. Bo Fries rounded out the Northern starters with eight points, five rebounds, and two assists.
 
The Wolves recorded 12 points off turnovers, 29 points of the bench, and 40 points in the paint to take down the top team in the nation. Offensively, NSU below past the Vikings scoring defense average of 68.9 points per game and cut down their 3-point percentage on defense of 35.6 percent. Augustana was unable to pull things together, even though they cut the NSU lead to just six points in the final minute and a half of regulation. Northern's largest led of the game came with just under two minutes remaining in the first half as they were up 51-33.
 
The win marks only the second in Sather's career over the Vikings as he inches one win away from reaching his 100^th as the leader of the Wolves.
 
The Wolves will return to the sidelines of Don Meyer Court tomorrow, as Wayne State College comes to town. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. between the Wolves and the Wildcats in the final "I Hate Winter" contest of the weekend.