WOLVES EARN WIN OVER NORTH DAKOTA

Dec. 15, 2001

'Jamma Party -- Brad Hansen puts down one of Northern's five dunks against UND Saturday night.

Northern State earned an 80-65 win over University of North Dakota Saturday night in a non-conference home game at NSU's Wachs Arena.

The win was Northern's first over a North Central Conference school this season, and improved the team's record to 7-3. All of Northern's losses on the year have come at the expense of NCC schools.

NSU trailed 33-35 at the half but took a 45-44 lead at the 14 minute mark on a layup by senior guard Drew Gruver (Scott City, Kan.) and never looked back. NSU led by as many as 16 points before the Sioux made their final spurt to get to within eight points with three minutes remaining. NSU sealed the game by making eight of 10 free throws in the closing minutes. Six of those clutch shots were cooly stroked by junior sniper Nick Schroeder (Plymouth, Minn.).

Junior forward Sundance Wicks (Gillette, Wyo.) led four Wolves in double digits with 21 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Wicks was an astounding 9-of-11 from the field including 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Senior post Brad Hansen (Tea) almost had a double-double of his own, posting 18 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Schroeder added 12 and Gruver 10 to round out NSU's double-digit scorers.

Represent -- NSU's raucus crowd of 3,427 served as a sixth man to help spur the team to a win against UND Saturday. Shown above is Booker T. Bell III, a senior football player showing his hardcourt support.

UND (5-3) was led by Jerome Beasley's 27 points and six rebounds. The game started with the Fighting Sioux making a statement by rushing out to an 18-4 lead which included a couple highlight-reel ally-oops flushed down by Beasley. The Wolves would win the can-you-top this game, however. After Beasley's last dunk gave UND a 21-11 lead, Northern answered six seconds later with a slam on the other end courtesy Hansen. Hansen would add two more dunks later in the game, while Wicks and senior post Andy Foster (Caledonia, Minn.) had a jam apiece.