LATE GAME THREE-POINT BARRAGE GOES USF'S WAY

November 23 , 2002

ABERDEEN, S.D. - The NSU men's basketball team was upended by the University of Sioux Falls in dramatic fashion on Saturday night in Wachs Arena, 71-70.

The game was tight throughout the first half as no team held more than a five-point advantage at any time during the period. But Northern tied its largest lead of the night that far at the end of the first when they led 35-30.

The Wolves hit the first shot of the second half and then extended the lead to eight leading 44-36 with 16:06 left to play.

NSU kept the lead between four and eight points until the 6:08 mark when the Cougars drew within two at 61-59. USF then hit a free throw do pull within one. At that point the Cougar defense held and, with a Ryan Coapstick three-pointer, took their first lead of the second half, 63-61, with 4:36 to play.

Northern reclaimed the lead as Jarod Obering countered with a three of his own to put the Wolves ahead again by one at 64-63 with 4:05 left in the game.

Obering then fired off another three at the 3:04 mark to give NSU a 67-63 advantage but USF kept the game close as Adam Burnison hit a three with 2:13 to play to keep the game a one-point affair.

At 1:57, it was OB time again as Obering hit a third consecutive three for the Wolves stretching the NSU lead to four.

Once again, Sioux Falls countered with 1:37 left. Coapstick pulled the Cougars within one with yet another hit from beyond the arch.

Sioux Fall then took the lead for good as Obering missed a jumper and Brett Moody hit a lay-in with just :38 to go.

NSU had an opportunity to overtake the lead again but Obering's shot was off and the Cougars pulled down the rebound.

After a missed free throw by USF, Northern has one last chance but Steve Smiley and Dan Lund were unable to hit two close shots before the buzzer sounded giving the Wolves their first loss of the year 71-70.

Obering led the Wolves with 19 points going 5-of-8 from three-point range. Dan Lund hit for 14 points and nine rebounds while Sundance Wicks posted ten points and eight boards.

NSU shot 40 percent on the night while Sioux Falls was at the 48 percent mark. NSU was 10-of-25 from long range.

Northern (1-1) hosts Dakota State on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

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