Jan. 3, 2000

Northern State opened a double-digit lead in the first seven minutes of the game and never looked back, handing Minnesota-Crookston a 83-64 loss Monday night in Wachs Arena.

The Wolves (5-7 overall, 2-2 NSIC) shot 44 percent (11-of-25) from 3-point range to help distance themselves from the Golden Eagles. Junior guard Jared Miller (Mitchell) led all scorers with 25 points. Three more Wolves hit double digits in the points column, including senior forward Dan Fischer (Bagley, Minn.), who netted 17 points. The ever-present long distance threat hit 5-of-8 from downtown. Although not even breaking into the scoring column, senior point guard Scott Hanson (Tolna, N.D.) had an equally impressive game, dishing out team season highs in assists (12) and steals (5). The numbers were also career highs for Hanson. Junior post Ben Dahl (Cottonwood, Minn.) led NSU on the glass with nine rebounds to go with 14 points.

After NSU jumped out to a 42-27 halftime advantage, UMC (3-8, 2-2) would come as close as 12 points in the second half, but the game's result never seemed in question. Northern travels to Minnesota-Duluth and Bemidji State Jan. 7 and 8.