A hot start by Northern State University was all the Wolves needed to coast to a 65-46 victory over the University of Minnesota Duluth Friday night in Aberdeen, S.D. Northern State swept the Bulldogs in the season series for the second straight season after splitting the previous three. UMD still leads the series 40-37.The Wolves improved to 26-3 on the season and 19-2 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Bulldogs head to the regular season finale 11-16 and 7-14 in the conference.
Northern State jumped out to a 20-4 lead just eight minutes into the game as it went on 11-0 run and kept UMD stuck on four points for over four minutes. It would lead by as much as 33 on the night.
Eight players scored with sophomore forward Brandon Myer hitting a team-high 14 points and added three steals. Junior forward Sean Burns posted eight points. Junior forward Ryan Kaczynski had four rebounds to lead all Bulldogs.
It was a defensive clinic put on against the Bulldogs. The 46 points was the lowest offensive output by UMD since St. Cloud State University held the offense to 45 points back on Jan. 8, 2010. The Bulldogs, who dressed and played nine men tonight, didn't have the horses to keep up with the high-efficient Wolves.
UMD didn't help itself on the offensive end either as they shot a season low 25.0 percent from the floor on only 13 made baskets, also a season low. The Wolves, who came into the night leading the NSIC in scoring defense, field goal percentage, offensive rebounds and field-goal defense, excelled in all those categories against the Bulldogs. Northern State shot 43.1 percent and had 12 offensive rebounds.
In the last appearance, the Wolves dominated the paint and tonight was no difference. The Bulldogs had trouble once again trying to defend the interior post players. The starting big men Darin Peterka had 17 points and Carter Evans knocked down 10. Northern State had 34 points in the paint and 19 second chance points.
UMD will close out the 2017-18 regular season at Minnesota State University-Moorhead tomorrow. Opening tip of that NSIC tilt will begin at 6:00 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn.
