Aberdeen, S.D. – It came down to the final possession, and the Northern State University men's basketball team was unable to sink the long range three and send the game into overtime. The Wolves fell to Wayne State College 84-81 from Wachs Arena, dropping to 14-4 overall and 10-2 in the NSIC.
 
The Wolves trailed by 14 with 5:21 to play in regulation and began to chip away at the Wayne State lead. Back-to-back made threes by Ian Smith and Mason Stark with 11 and four seconds remaining brought the Wolves within one of the Wildcats. Northern fouled on the Wayne in-bound and the Wildcats sunk the two free throw attempts, giving the Wolves just seconds to send the game into overtime. 
 
The Wildcats were efficient offensively, shooting a game high 56.9 percent from the floor. Northern shot 46.8 percent from the field, 85.0 percent from the free throw line, and just 26.1 percent from the 3-point line. Each team tallied six made 3-pointers in the game, with the Wolves notching nine assists, two steals, and one block.
 
Northern combined for 40 points in the paint, 20 points off the bench, 13 points off 12 offensive rebounds, and five points off turnovers. They out-rebounded the Wildcats 38-26 in the contest, and finished the game with three players notching double figure points.
 
Ian Smith took the team on his back with a career high 39 points. He blew past his previous mark of 26, notching 19 points in the first 20 minutes of play. He shot 60.9 percent from the floor and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line. The senior was second on the team with six rebounds, and led NSU with three assists.
 
Mason Stark led the team off the bench with 13 points, hitting 3-of-4 from the 3-point line. He added two assists, as well as a team high two steals. Justin Decker as the final Wolf in double figures with 12 points. Stark and Decker shot 80.0 and 71.4 percent from the floor respectively to lead the team.
 
Parker Fox added seven points and six rebounds off the bench for NSU, while Gabe King tallied six points and a team leading seven rebounds. Bo Fries also pulled down a team leading seven boards, and added two points and two assists. Andrew Kallman tallied the final two points for the Wolves, as well as one rebound and one assist.
 
Northern begins a 4-game road tilt next Friday and Saturday at St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. versus the Huskies on Friday and 5:30 p.m. versus the Bulldogs on Saturday.