Dec. 16, 2000

Northern State led in nearly every statistical category, but fell short in the only one that matters in a 64-66 loss at University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) Saturday night.

The Wolves (4-6 overall, 0-2 NSIC) traded leads with the nationally-ranked Sioux throughout the first half, then came back from a nine-point deficit in the second half to nearly escape storied Hyslop Sports Center with a win. UND improved to 9-1 overall with the win. The team's only loss on the year was an excusable one to Division I perennial powerhouse Kansas in the season opener.

Northern out-rebounded UND 36-29 on the night, shot 50 percent from the field to the Sioux's 38 percent, and shot 60 percent (6-of-10) from 3-point range to UND's 35 percent. But the Sioux forced 18 NSU turnovers and made many more trips to the line (18-25) than did NSU (10-11).

Northern came back in the second half to take a one-point lead with two minutes remaining and led by a score of 64-62 with 1:16 left on two made free throws by junior post Brad Hansen (Tea). But UND answered with two made free-throws of its own. On NSU's next possession, a Houston Reed (junior, Olathe, Colo.) pass hit the backside of an official and led to a UND steal. Reed fouled on the subsequent transition play and the Wolves got out of the unfortunate sequence without any damage done as the Sioux missed both free-throws with 38 seconds remaining.

On the next possession, junior point guard Roland Williams (Ft. Worth, Texas) was called for a five-second infraction, and once again UND was given the ball and a chance to win. The Sioux held for the final shot, and were instead granted two free ones with one second left when Williams was whistled for a foul on UND's Tom Jacobson. Jacobson calmly converted on the controversial call to send NSU home with the disappointing loss.

Hansen led NSU with 14 points in just 16 minutes played due to early foul trouble. Williams, who fouled out, was next on NSU's scoring list with 11 points. Reed rounded out NSU's double-digit scorers with 10 points to go with five rebounds and four fouls. Junior post Andy Foster (Caledonia, Minn.) led the team with seven rebounds, while junior guard Drew Gruver (Scott City, Kan.) dished out a team-high five assists. Kyle Behrens led UND with 15 points.