WOLVES STORM PAST SOUTHWEST WITH SOLID DEFENSIVE EFFORT

February 7 , 2002

Marshall, Minn . - The NSIC-leading Northern State men's basketball team hit on a season-high 53.3 percent of its three-point field goals and played an aggressive defensive game to knock off second-place Southwest State 73-61 in Marshall, Minn. on Friday night.

The Wolves were slow getting started committing nine turnovers and allowing nine Southwest State offensive rebounds in the first half, but the team came to life and showed why they are at the top of the league correcting their mistakes and outscoring the Mustangs 41-26 in the second period to claim the 12-point victory.

The Mustangs held a lead as large as five just before the half but Nick Schroeder hit a jumper with time running down in the period to bring the Wolves within three at the break.

Northern then opened up the second half with a Sundance Wicks three followed by a bucket by Aaron Busack to give the Wolves their first lead since the opening two minutes of the game.

The Wolves built their lead to 11 points with 7:50 to play when Soutwest made one last charge and pulled within six with 4:41 left in the game. NSU answered with six straight points to silence the Mustang crowd for good and seal the Wolves' ninth win in ten games.

Northern's Nick Schroeder paced the NSU scoring with 15 on the night. Sundance Wicks threw in his eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and ten rebounds while Jarod Obering and Dustin Hjelmeland added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Steve Smiley had another solid evening making key defensive plays and adding to his league-high assists total with six on the night. Smiley also pulled down five boards on the night.

Southwest State was paced by Brian Wiersma and Elijah Starzl who each posted 15 points on the night.

Northern won the battle on the glass collecting 36 rebounds to Southwest State's 29.

The Wolves shot an outstanding 51 percent from the floor and were even better from three-point land (53.3 percent). The Mustangs were held to 37.9 percent from the floor and just over 31 percent from three-point range.

With the win, Northern (10-2 NSIC) sits a game and a half ahead of Winona State (8-3 NSIC). The Wolves play at Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday night in a 7:30 p.m. tilt.

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n the NSIC and holds a one-game advantage over Winona State and Southwest State. The Wolves will meet Southwest next Friday in Marshall, Minn.

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