Aberdeen, S.D. - Minnesota Duluth, ranked 17th in the nation in the latest NCAA Division II poll, narrowly defeated the Northern State men's basketball program Friday evening, using a late second-half push to claim a 69-66 victory over the Wolves at Wachs Arena. The loss snaps a modest 3-game win streak for the Wolves and is their first home loss of the season.
QUICK HITS
- Final score: Minnesota Duluth 69, Northern State 66
- Records: Northern State 9-5, 3-3 NSIC; Minnesota Duluth 12-1, 6-0 NSIC
- Attendance: 1826
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The night was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip with neither team able to break into the double-digits for a lead. The game featured nine total lead changes and six ties.
- After Minnesota-Duluth claimed a second-half lead, Northern's Augustin Reede hit a couple late 3-pointers to keep the Wolves within a possession. Jordan Belka also hit a 3-pointer with under a minute to go that sliced the Bulldogs' lead to just one.
- Duluth's Drew Blair hit two free throws with 22 seconds remaining that pushed the lead back to three points. Northern had three cracks at game-tying shots, including a desperation three at the end that bounced away.
- Northern put four players in double figures, but struggled to hit consistently from long range, going 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) from 3-point range in the game. On the whole, the Wolves were 24-for-62 (38.7 percent) from the floor.
- Minnesota Duluth, coached by former NSU assistant Justin Wieck, was unable to create as many offensive chances at the basket as the host Wolves, but was just slightly more efficient with the ball, going 26-for-54 (48.1 percent) from the floor.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
UP NEXT
Northern will host St. Cloud State Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m.
