WOLVES KNOCK OFF THIRD-RANKED SOUTH DAKOTA

December 13, 2003

NSU's Taite Plass posted his first double-double as a Wolf with 14 points and ten rebounds.

Aberdeen, S.D. - A seemingly refocused Northern State men's basketball team was able to send the third-ranked South Dakota Coyotes home with their first blemish of the season in a decisive 69-57 affair in Wachs Arena on Saturday night.

NSU jumped out to an early eight-point lead at 18-10 and pushed the advantage to 32-22 with 2:33 remaining in the opening period.

The Coyotes then cut the lead to 33-26 at the break and carried the late-half run into the second period as they were able to reclaim a lead, 43-41, at the 15:17 mark in the second.

The USD lead proved to be only a momentary thing as the Wolves stuck to their guns and reclaimed the lead for good just 2:30 later on what was the start of an 11-0 run for the home squad.

USD would not get any closer than seven for the rest of the contest as the Wolves turned away the Coyotes 69-57.

Taite Plaas was a huge part of the NSU win as the sophomore recorded the first double-double of his career with 14 points and ten rebounds in just 17 minutes of play.

Jarod Obering led NSU scorers with 19 points and chipped in five assists on the night, as well.

Aaron Busack contributed 16 points to the Wolves' offensive effort to round out NSU's double-figure scorers while Steve Smiley chipped in a game high eight assists.

USD was led by a 13-point performance by Vincent McGill while junior guard Josh Mueller added 11 points on the night.

The win snaps a 26-game non-conference winning streak for the Coyotes.

NSU (6-2) hosts Augustana on Saturday night at 8 p.m. in its final game before the Holiday break.

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