Grant Man

Adam Grant Ties Season High With 18 Points in 71-58 NSIC/Red Baron Semi-final Win

Winona, Minn. – No. 14 Northern State (25-4, 11-3 NSIC) advances to the NSIC/Red Baron Basketball Classic Championship game for the third consecutive year after a 71-58 win over Bemidji State (15-13, 9-5 NSIC) in the tournament semi-finals. Northern State’s Adam Grant tied a season high as he scored 18 points after going 4-of-6 from three-point range. The win marks the eighth consecutive win for the Wolves in the NSIC/Red Baron Classis, which ties Minnesota-Duluth for the tournament record.

The game was tied at eight with five minutes gone when Adam Grant (Sr., F, Berthold, N.D.) hit the first of four three pointers on the day. The basket put the Wolves up three and they would never look back from there.

The Wolves would open up a ten point lead, 23-13 with ten minutes to go after Bemidji State went five minutes without scoring. The Wolves would get the lead up to as many as 13 in the first half and lead 38-29 at the intermission.

The Beavers would get no closer than seven in the second half.

As they did in first win over the Beavers this season, the Wolves used a superior edge in free throws and rebounds. The Wolves were 20-of-27 (74%) from the free throw line compared to the Beavers 6-of-7 foul shots. The Wolves also out-rebounded the Beavers 43 to 32 and 15 to 12 on the offensive end.

Grant finished with a game high 18 point on 6-of-12 shooting. Matt Hammer (Sr., F, Elkton, S.D.) collected his sixth double-double of his career as he finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Hammer had six assist and six turnovers in his 38 minutes of play. Hammer also surpassed 1,600 career points in the game.

Craig Nelson (R-So., G, Mayville, N.D.) was also 4-of-6 from three-point range as he scored 16 points while Aaron Busack finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Busack struggled down below early as he finished the game only 4-of-12 from the field, but was 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.

The Wolves now advance to the NSIC/Red Baron Men’s Basketball Championship game for the third consecutive season. They will take on the host team, Winona State on Sunday, March 5 th at 2:00 p.m. in McCown Gym in Winona, Minn.
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