Aberdeen, S.D. – For the second night in a row, the No. 16 Northern State men's basketball team had fans on the edge of their seats notching a second half comeback win over Minnesota Crookston. The Wolves defeated the Golden Eagles 76-64 from Wachs Arena, recording 47 points in the second half. Northern improves to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in the NSIC.
It was an all-out battle in the first half, with the largest lead of eight points going in favor of the Golden Eagles with just 11:20 remaining. Through the final seven minutes of the half, the two teams traded the lead on five occasions, with Crookston coming with the 33-29 halftime lead. Northern shot just 37.8 percent from the floor in the first and gave up seven of their ten turnovers in the game. The Wolves grabbed the lead for good at 14:24 in the second and did not look back, shooting 53.3 percent from the floor.
For the game, NSU shot 44.8 percent from the floor and 78.9 percent from the foul line. They tallied 40 points in the paint, 24 points off the turnovers, 26 second chance points, and 18 points off the bench. Northern out-rebounded Crookston 47-22 in the win, and combined for six assists, six steals, and three blocks.
Ian Smith and
Carter Evans led the team with 18 points each. Smith shot 52.9 percent from the floor and grabbed a team leading three steals, while adding five rebounds. Evans contributed each and every bench point for the team, while pulling down a team leading seven rebounds. The senior knocked down 9-of-13 from the floor to lead the team.
Darin Peterka and
DJ Pollard were second on the team with 13 points apiece. Peterka shot 50.0 percent from the floor with five rebounds and one assist, while Pollard shot 40.0 percent from the floor with six rebounds and two assists. The pair each tallied one block and one steal.
Logan Doyle was the final Wolf in double figures notching ten points and a team second best six rebounds. The senior took eight trips to the charity stripe, knocking down six total. He also added one block and one steal. Gabe King accounted for the final four team points, while leading the Wolves with seven rebounds. Bo Fries and
Justin Decker grabbed a rebound each, while Fries notched two assists.
The Wolves will remain at home next Friday for an 8 p.m. match-up against MSU Moorhead.
