WOLVES DROP TIGHT GAME TO
DEFENDING NSIC CHAMPS SOUTHWEST STATE

Feb. 1, 2002

Smooooth -- NSU senior guard Drew Gruver glides in for two against Southwest State Friday night.

Northern State let one slip away Friday night in the Barnett Center, and for the time being it cost the team the lead in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings.

After leading for the most of the second half, Northern faltered late to allow defending NSIC Champion Southwest State to escape Wachs Arena with a 65-59 win.

The Mustangs (13-6, 8-4 NSIC) came in needing a win to stay in the hunt for the regular season NSIC title, while the Wolves (14-6, 9-3 NSIC) were tied for the conference lead. With NSU's loss and Minnesota-Duluth's win Friday, NSU moved back a step to second in the conference title chase.

Senior guard Drew Gruver (Scott City, Kan.) was Northern's offensive sparkplug, coming up with 21 points -- one shy of tying his career high -- on the night. Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) was NSU's other double-digit scorer, putting up 13 points. Junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) led the Wolves on the boards with nine rebounds and defensively with four steals. Jacob Fahl led SSU with 16 points, but it was another SSU guard that killed the Wolves late.

SSU's Robert Steib owned the last five minutes of the game, scoring 10 of the Mustangs' final 14 points and coming up with a few key offensive rebounds. He ended with 15 points on the night.

Northern hosts Wayne State (Neb.) Saturday night.