Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University men's basketball team made it 4-straight Saturday, with a 91-81 victory over Southwest Minnesota State. The I Hate Winter victory over the Mustangs moved the Wolves to 19-5 overall and 15-3 in the NSIC.
NSU was potent offensively in the win, shooting 65.2 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from the 3-point line. They hit 12 from beyond the arc, and combined for 19 team assists. In total, the Wolves scored 34 points in the paint, 33 points off the bench, 12 points off turnovers, and five points off seven offensive boards. In addition, Northern out-rebounded Southwest 32-20 in the win and recorded five blocks and three steals.
It was a balanced attack for the Wolves as five players scored in double figures, led by
Gabe King with a career high 23. The junior hit 7-of-8 from the floor, 3-of-4 from the 3-point line, and 6-of-6 from the foul line, while adding six rebounds, two assists, and one block.
Ian Smith followed with 13 points of his own, and led the team with seven assists. Smith added five rebounds and one steal, shooting 55.6 percent from the floor.
Parker Fox and
Jordan Belka led the team off the bench with 11 points apiece. Fox grabbed a team leading seven rebounds, and added two blocks, one assist, and one steal. He shot 75.0 percent from the floor as well. Belka tallied three rebounds for the Wolves and knocked down 4-of-5 from the field, including three made 3-pointers.
Bo Fries rounded out the Wolves in double figures with ten points, shooting 50.0 percent. He added one block and one assist to the team total.
Andrew Kallman,
Justin Decker, and
Cole Dahl each grabbed six points in the victory, while
Mason Stark tallied the final five.
Kallman was second on the team with five assists and added one rebound. Decker was strong on both ends of the floor, shooting 75.0 percent from the floor with five rebounds, two assists, and one block. Dahl hit two from beyond the arc, shooting 66.7 percent and added three rebounds, while Stark tallied one rebound, one assist, and one steal.
The Wolves will close out their regular season home schedule next Friday and Saturday versus Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Friday versus the Bulldogs and 6 p.m. on Saturday against the Huskies.
