Duluth, Minn. – The Northern State University men's basketball team suffered their second divisional loss on Saturday evening, falling to Minnesota Duluth 76-70. The Wolves drop to 15-5 overall and 11-3 in the NSIC following the game.
The two teams were evenly matched throughout the game with ten ties through the 40 minutes of action. Neither team led by more than ten in the contest. Statistically the Wolves biggest pitfall in the game was the 14 turnovers given up, which resulted in 20 UMD points.
Northern shot 41.8 percent from the floor, 39.1 percent from the 3-point line with nine made 3-pointers, and 83.3 percent from the foul line. The Bulldogs just edged out the Wolves shooting 44.2 percent from the floor, 41.2 percent from the arc, and 85.2 percent from the free throw line.
As a team, the Wolves combined for 22 points in the paint, 15 points off the bench, 11 second chance points, and eight points off turnovers. They tallied 14 assists, three blocks, and three steals, while out-rebounding Minnesota Duluth 34-31.
Andrew Kallman had a career night for the Wolves playing 37 of the 40 minutes of regulation. The sophomore dropped a career high 21 points, adding three rebounds and four assists. He shot 57.1 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from beyond the arc with five made 3-pointers.
Gabe King and
Justin Decker followed with 14 and 12 points respectively. King went a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line, and tallied four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Decker led the team with five rebounds, and added two assists.
Parker Fox was the fourth and final Wolf in double figures, leading the team off the bench with 11 points. Fox also grabbed a team high five rebounds, in addition to two blocks. He was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and hit 5-of-7 from the foul line.
Bo Fries and
Ian Smith rounded out the starting five with a combined eight points. Smith appeared in limited minutes for the Wolves, but led the team with five assists, while adding four rebounds. Fries notched three rebounds of his own, as well as one assist.
Mason Stark grabbed the final for team points of the Wolves, adding four rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal.
The Wolves will remain on the road next weekend traveling to Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. on Friday in St. Paul and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday in Mankato.
