Moorhead, Minn. – The Northern State University men's basketball team suffered their first NSIC loss of the 2018-19 season, falling 71-69 on the road. The Wolves drop to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in league action.
Northern had possession with four seconds remaining, down two, but the Wolves were unable to hit the final shot with a missed 3-pointer. The Wolves shot 50.9 percent from the floor, out-shooting the Dragons by 2.6 percent. They trailed 38-29 at the half, but stormed back with 40 points to Moorhead's 33 in the second.
NSU grabbed a game high six made 3-pointers, and out-rebounded MSUM 37-23 in the game. The Wolves grabbed a game high 38 points in the paint, and added nine points off the bench, eight second chance points, and seven points off turnovers. Northern gave up 14 turnovers in the loss, which resulted in 17 Dragon points, and shot a 4-game low 35.3 percent from the arc.
Parker Fox led three Wolves in double figures in the first start of his Northern State career. The redshirt freshman drained 19 points, and grabbed a team high eight rebounds. He hit 8-of-13 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
Bo Fries and
Ian Smith followed with 15 and 14 points respectively, as well as four rebounds and three assists apiece. Fries was perfect from the arc, going 2-for-2, which Smith shot 50.0 percent from the field and led the team with three steals.
Gabe King and
Andrew Kallman rounded out the starting five with eight and four points respectively. Kallman was second on the team with a career high seven rebounds and three assists, while King knocked down two threes and added two rebounds.
Jordan Belka led the Wolves off the bench with four points and three rebounds. The freshman shot 50.0 percent from the field.
Cole Dahl and
Ethan Kranhold followed with three and two points respectively. Dahl added two rebounds and one assist, while Kranhold notched three rebounds and one block.
The Northern State men will have a 16-day break before traveling to Upper Iowa and Winona State on January 4 and 5. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Fayette and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Winona.
