NSU OFFENSE CRANKS UP IN 112-96 WIN OVER LANCERS

November 29, 2003

SMILEY

Aberdeen, S.D. - Northern State shot 71 percent from the floor in the second half as the Wolves' offense rolled to a 112-96 win over Mt. Marty College in non-conference basketball action on Saturday night in Wachs Arena.

After a mediocre offensive performance by both teams in the first half, Northern State ended the period on a three-point basket by Dustin Hjelmeland to go into the locker room up 49-48.

In the second half, the Wolves seemed to pick things up where they left off in the first hitting 14 of their first 16 shots from the field and collecting 32 points in the first 8:04 of the period and taking a 19-point advantage midway through the half.

Mt. Marty closed the gap to eight points with 4:55 to play but Northern sprinted to the final gun outscoring the Lancers 15-7 in the final five minutes.

Steve Smiley didn't lead the Wolves in scoring but was by far the most valuable player on the court tonight. Smiley collected his first career double-double with ten points and ten assists and added a team high seven rebounds for NSU on the night.

Aaron Busack led NSU scorers with 24 points hitting 7-of-10 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the free throw line. Dustin Hjelmeland added 21 points to the Wolves' point total hitting 7-of-9 from the floor including a 6-of-7 night from long range.

NSU finished the night shooting at a season high 59.3 percent clip while hitting on 57.1 percent of its three point attempts. The Wolves also won the rebounding battle with 30 board compared to MMC's 26.

The win brings NSU's home court winning streak to 12 games.

Northern State (5-0) will face off against No. 15 South Dakota State in Brookings on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

NOTE: NSU's 112 points was the most scored by a Northern State team since Nov. 21, 2001 when they defeated Dakota State 113-57. The combined 208 points in the game was the most in a Wolves' basketball game since a 227-point scoring barrage when NSU fell to Nebraska-Kearney 117-110 on Nov. 28, 1998.

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