BEAVERS HAND NORTHERN STATE 69-68 SETBACK

February 21, 2002

Bemidji, Minn. - The Northern State University men's basketball team remained a conference win away from an NSIC championship as Bemidji State edged the Wolves 69-68 in Bemidji on Friday night.

BSU held a lead as large as 11 late in the first half and took a nine-point advantage into the halftime break at 43-34.

But the Wolves gradually rallied in the second half and captured a 68-67 lead with 1:39 to go in the game. The Beavers then missed a jumper with :43 to go but Sundance Wicks missed two free throws on the other end with :23 remaining.

The Beavers made NSU pay when Charles Hanks pulled up and hit a jumper with :07 left in the game giving the Wolves one last chance to win the game. NSU's Adam Grant shot a last second jumper that fell just off the mark and gave Bemidji the 69-68 victory.

Wicks led NSU scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds on the night while Aaron Busack was three-for-three from the floor and finished with 13. Jarod Obering came in with 12 and Nick Schroeder finished with ten for Northern State.

BSU's Charles Hanks led all scorers with 23 on the night while Adam Daley threw in 14 points and eight rebounds for the Beavers.

NSU shot just over 40 percent from the floor while Bemidji State hit 46 percent of their shots and an outstanding 52 percent from three-point range on the evening.

The Wolves will have another chance to claim the NSIC title Saturday night at Minnesota-Duluth.

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