Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team cruised to their sixth straight victory on Saturday evening, defeating the University of Mary 76-59. Northern improves to 9-2 overall and 5-0 in the NSIC, as the only unbeaten team in the North Division.
 
The Wolves got out to a roaring 21-point lead in the first half, shooting 72.0 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the 3-point line. UMary battled back in the second, ultimately out-scoring the Wolves in the half but it was not enough to overcome the spread. Northern out-rebounded Mary 34-27 in the win, and recorded a game high 12 made 3-pointers, 18 assists, and two blocks.
 
NSU shot 57.7 percent from the floor, 46.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 44.4 percent from the foul line in the game. The Wolves tallied 30 points in the paint, 27 points off the bench, 14 second chance points off ten offensive boards, and 11 points off seven Marauder turnovers. They held their largest lead of the game, of 27-points, with 7:37 left on the clock in the first.
 
Ian Smith and Gabe King led the team with 12 points apiece, shooting 60.0 and 55.6 percent from the floor respectively. Smith also grabbed a team high nine rebounds, and dished out a game high six assists. Andrew Kallman matched Smith in the assist column with six of his own, adding nine points, one rebound, and one bock.
 
Bo Fries and Justin Decker combined for the final 16 points from the NSU starters with nine and seven respectively. Fries was second on the team with five rebounds, hitting 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, while Decker notched three rebounds and shot 50.0 percent from the floor.
 
Parker Fox led the team off the bench with ten points, knocking down 5-of-6 from the field. The freshman added three rebounds and two assists. Cole Dahl added nine points of his own, all by virtue of the long ball, in addition to four rebounds and one block. Mason Stark and Jordan Belka tallied the final points for the Wolves with five and three apiece.
 
Next up for the Wolves is a midweek match-up with NSIC travel partner MSU Moorhead. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. on Wednesday the 19^th, on the campus of Concordia College.