ABERDEEN, S.D. – A fast start provided the University of Mary an early lead but a strong close produced an 86-79 win for Northern State University. The homestanding Wolves scored nine of the final ten points in the game to claim the Northern Sun win.
A total team effort propelled the Marauders to an early 16-4 lead as seven different players scored for U-Mary. The Wolves battled back and eventually took a brief lead before two baskets by
Damonta Henry in the final 30 seconds, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, gave the Marauders a 40-37 lead at intermission.
The Marauders held the lead through much of the second half before the Wolves knotted the game at 60-60. Eventually Northern State built a 77-71 lead on a triple by DJ Pollard.
Not ready to surrender, U-Mary scored the next seven points. A 3-point play by
Bryan Jefferson started the run and
Isaac Lindquist followed with a jumper. The Marauders took their final lead of the evening at 78-77 on a
Luke Scott layup with 2:31 remaining.
The rest of the game belonged to the Wolves, who scored on their next two possessions. A jumper in the paint by Spencer Pankonin gave Northern State a 79-78 lead. After a U-Mary miss, Seth Bachand scored on a fast break layup for a three point advantage.
Following another U-Mary miss, Bachand rebounded a Wolves miss, was fouled and hit two free throws to increase the lead to 83-78. After one more Marauders misfire from the field and another Wolves rebound, Tydan Storrusten hit 1-of-2 free throws for a six point NSU lead with 19 seconds remaining. Jefferson would go 1-for-2 at the free throw line during the Marauders next possession but two Justin Decker free throws with five seconds on the clock sealed the Wolves win.
The Marauders missed their final five field goal attempts on the night and they had just one rebound in the final 2:13. Meanwhile the Wolves went 2-for-3 from the field, made 5-of-6 at the free throw line, and had six rebounds off missed shots.
One of five Marauders in double digits, Jefferson led the teem with 16 points in a reserve role. The sophomore forward was 5-of-8 from the floor, 6-of-8 at the free throw line and had four rebounds.
Henry and
Marquealis Edwards both chipped in 15 points. Henry also had six boards and Edwards chipped in five assists and four rebounds.
Lindquist and Scott both set career-highs with 10 points each. Playing back in his home state, Lindquist was 5-of-9 from the floor. Scott stuffed the stats in several categories, hitting 2-of-3 trey attempts, pulling down six rebounds and making three assists.
Bachand had a big night for the Wolves. The forward posted an impressive stat line of 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting, 15 rebounds, six assists and five blocks. Skye Warwick hit four 3-pointers and scored 19 points, Storrusten had 13 and Peterka added 11 with four assists.
U-Mary shot a stellar 49.2 per cent from the floor while Northern State checked in at 45.8 percent. The Wolves held an edge in 3-pointers made (12 to six) and at the free throw line, making 20-of-23 to 11-of-14 for the Marauders.
The Marauders next face 19
th ranked MSU Moorhead on the road Saturday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m.
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