Bismarck, N.D. – The No. 21 Northern State University men's basketball team completed the NSIC opening weekend sweep with a 75-66 victory over the University of Mary. The Wolves improve to 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the league.
The Marauders were out to a quick start leading 6-1 through the first minute of play, however the Wolves tied things up at the 16 minute and took the 9-6 lead just seconds later. That would be the only lead of the game for the Marauders, as Northern ran away with the game. The Wolves led by 11 at the half, and held their largest lead of the evening, 17 points, just four minutes into the second.
Northern shot 50.0 percent from the floor, 40.7 percent from the 3-point line, and 71.4 percent from the charity stripe. They out-rebounded the Marauders 36-25 in the game, scoring a total of 11 points off ten offensive boards. NSU added 30 points in the paint and 19 points off the bench, while dishing out a game leading 20 assists.
Gabe King led the team with a career high 18 points in the win. The sophomore shot 7-of-12 from the floor, knocking four made 3-pointers. He also added a team leading two blocks, as well as one assist and one steal.
DJ Pollard was second on the team with 16 points, shooting at 55.6 percent clip. Pollard added a team second best four assists, and notched six rebounds and one block.
Darin Peterka was the final Wolf in double figures scoring ten points, while adding three rebounds, four assists, and one steal. After a career high a night ago,
Ian Smith notched nine points and a team leading nine rebounds and five assists.
Bo Fries led the team off the bench with nine points of his own, going 3-of-5 from the arc. Fries added two rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Carter Evans was close behind with seven points and four rebounds, while Logan Doyle and Andrew Kallman notched three points each. Doyle was second on the team grabbing eight rebounds.
The Wolves return to action on Monday with a non-conference doubleheader against Presentation College. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. from Wachs Arena. Northern will remain at home over the weekend as they welcome Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston to Aberdeen.
