Reign Continues

Wolves Win Back to Back NSIC Red Baron Championships

WINONA, Minn. – Northern State senior guard Jarod Obering scored the final four points for Northern State as they defeated NSIC Regular Season Champions Winona State 73-69 to win there second NSIC Tournament Championship in as many years. NSIC Player of the Year Matt Hammer topped that honor off by being named NSIC Red Baron Men’s Basketball Classic MVP.

Joining Hammer on the NSIC Red Baron Classic All-Tournament Team was AaronBusack (Jr., C, Redwood Falls, Minn.). Winona State’s DavidZellman, JohnSmith and Zach Malvik.

Northern State led by six points with five minutes to go, but Winona battled back to tie the game with just over a minute to go. Jarod Obering faked a three and stepped in to hit a jumper just inside the arc to put the Wolves up two. Winona missed a shot from the baseline and Levi Hamilton (Fr., F, Lincoln, Neb.) came down with the board. Obering was fouled and hit two huge free throws with 20 seconds left to put the Wolves up four, 73-69. Winona had a couple of shots, but none fell as the Wolves repeat as NSIC Champions. The Wolves and Minnesota-Duluth are now the only two time NSIC Tournament Championship since it started back in 2000.

The Wolves ended a Winona State win streak that spanned nine games. They also snapped a 13 game win streak against NSIC teams.

With 2:30 to go in the first half, the Wolves let a seven point lead slip to three as the Warriors finished the first half on a 4-0 run make it a 30-27 game at the half.

Northern State will advance to the NCAA Division II Region next weekend. The site, opponents and times are yet to be determined.

Hammer and Busack, both juniors, are only the fourth and fifth players to be named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team twice. Dusty Decker and Jason Schneeweis of Minnesota-Duluth and Chad Koenen of Southwest State are the only other players to be named twice.