Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team sailed to their fifth straight victory on Friday evening, defeating Minnesota Duluth 72-70 from Wachs Arena. The Wolves improved to 20-5 overall and 16-3 in the NSIC, in front of a packed house of 5,318 fans.
 
For just the third time this season, the Wolves were out-shot by their opponents but came away with the win. Northern shot 43.4 percent from the floor, while the Bulldogs shot 47.4 percent from the floor. The Wolves tallied 34 points in the first, and led the Bulldogs by six at half. Duluth battled back in the second, out-scoring Northern 42-38, however it was not enough to seal the victory.
 
Northern tallied 30 points in the paint, 13 points off the bench, and 11 points off eight offensive boards. They combined for 30 rebounds, six assists, six blocks, six steals, and four 3-pointers.
 
Gabe King led the team with 18 points, shooting 60.0 percent from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line. The junior added four rebounds and one assist as well. Justin Decker and Ian Smith followed with 15 and 14 points respectively. Decker tallied five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals, while Smith notched three rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
 
Bo Fries led the team at the rim with nine rebounds, adding seven points, two assists, and one block. Mason Stark matched Fries' total and led the team off the bench with seven points, shooting 50.0 percent from the floor. The redshirt freshman also tallied four rebounds.
 
Parker Fox and Andrew Kallman grabbed the final 11 points for the Wolves, notching six and five respectively. Kallman tallied three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, and Fox notched two rebounds and two blocks.  
 
The Northern State men return to the Wachs Arena floor tomorrow evening, for their final regular season home contest. NSU will tip-off with St. Cloud State at 6 p.m. for senior night.