DOMINANT SECOND HALF LIFTS VANDERBILT OVER WOLVES

November 6 , 2003

Nashville, Tenn. - For twenty minutes, the Northern State men's hoopsters stayed right with NCAA Division I Vanderbilt University stride-for-stride. But a second half explosion by the Commodores and cold Wolf shooting from the outside decided a 86-57 contest in exhibition play Thursday night.

After a last second steal and bucket to end the first half, the Wolves found themselves down just 31-28 at the break. But Vanderbilt found its offense in the second period hitting 60 percent from the floor and 54.5 percent from three-point range to outscore NSU 55-29 in the half.

NSU's Tony Birmingham, Taite Plaas and Matt Hammer led the way for the Wolves on the night, each with nine points. Hammer added a team high seven rebounds while senior guard Steve Smiley led the way with four assists in the game.

The Wolves shot just 35.6 percent from the floor on the night and hit 8-of-27 (29.6 percent) from long-range. The Wolves were outrebounded 44-27 on the evening by a much bigger Vanderbilt lineup.

SEC Preseason Player of the Year Matt Freije led VU with 20 points on 5-of-5 shooting with three from long range on the night. The Commodore's Julian Terrell led all players on the glass with ten rebounds in the contest.

Northern State will wrap up its exhibition schedule on Saturday night with a 7:30 matchup with Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee.

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