WOLVES HOLD OFF BISON IN DOUBLE OVERTIME VICTORY

November 30, 2002

NSU guard Jarod Obering looks for a pass in the second half of the Wolves double overtime win over North Dakota State on Saturday night.

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Northern State defeated North Dakota State 88-85 in double overtime on Saturday night in Wachs Arena.

Northern used an 8-5 advantage in the second extra period to gain its third win of the season.

The Wolves led by as many as nine in the first half and looked like they may pull away, but the Bison hung tough and drew within two with 11:38 to play in the first.

NDSU tied the game for the fifth time with 2:09 to play in period one but never saw a lead in the first half after the 17:36 mark.

Northern was able to hit some shots at the end of the first to go up 41-40 at the break.

Neither team led by more than five points in the second half and, with NSU up three with 1:46 to go in regulation, NDSU's Ben Nemmers hit a jumper to pull the Bison within one. Aaron Busack hit one of two free throws to give the Wolves a 70-68 lead with :28 to go but Denver TenBroek hit two free throws with :16 remaining to tie up the score.

In the first overtime period, CoCo Cofield gave NDSU a two point advantage but Sundance Wicks hit two shots followed by a three-pointer by Nick Schroeder and a layup by Steve Smiley to keep NSU up by one, 79-78. Shawn Grabbert knocked down two free throws for North Dakota State to put the Bison up one but Steve Smiley responed hitting one-of-two free throws on the other end to send the game into the second extra period.

Dustin Hjelmeland hit a jumper just :19 into the second OT but Denver TenBroek tied it up at the other end just seconds later. NSU's Sundance Wicks hit two free throws while NDSU's CoCo Cofield hit one to give the Wolves a one-point advantage with 3:30 remaining. Nick Schroeder drove to the hole and scored with 3:02 left while NDSU was unable to score. Jarod Obering and Sundance Wicks each hit one free throw each to make the lead 88-83 for NSU with nine ticks left. The Bison hit an open layup with :02 to go but Northern threw the ball the length of the floor to run out the clock and hold on for the 88-85 victory.

--NSU freshman Aaron Busack posted a career high 24 points to lead the Wolves.

--Nick Schroeder was 3-for-5 from three-point range and finished with 15 points and seven rebounds.

--Sundance Wicks scored 12 points and grabbed a game high 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. He also led NSU with six assists with Jarod Obering.

--With the win, Don Meyer collected his 50th at Northern State...his 752nd overall.

--Northern shot .615 from three-point range in the first half. They were .435 for the game.

--NSU won the battle on the glass outrebounding NDSU 46-42.

--Northern hit 30-of-61 shots (.492) on the night compared to a 28-for-76 (.368) performance by North Dakota State.

--NDSU's Denver TenBroek led all scorers with 32 points on the night.

--NSU (3-1) will play at Augustana on Wednesday night.

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