Box Score Post-Game Interview with Jeff Oseth

CROOKSTON, Minn. - A pair of second-half runs guided Northern State University past the University of Minnesota Crookston 72-49 Friday night at Lysaker Gymnasium. The Golden Eagles hung with Northern State, who came into the weekend tied for first in the NSIC North, for the first half and parts of the second half before the Wolves took over toward the end of the second frame guided by improved shooting and controlling the charity stripe.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-11 (1-10 NSIC) as they lost their ninth-straight game Friday night. Northern State improves to 13-4 (8-3 NSIC) and is now in just a two-way tie for first in the NSIC North with Bemidji State University.

The Golden Eagles were led on the game by Tyler West, Jr. (Jr., F, Portland, Ore./Communications) with 11 points and six rebounds. Tim Lubke (Jr., G, St. Paul, Minn./Sports and REc Management) added 10 points. Derrick Redd (So., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) finished with eight points, while John Hughes (So., F, Tualatin, Ore./Management) added seven points and seven boards, including four offensive boards.

Minnesota Crookston struggled from the field on the night, going 18-of-56 from the field for 32.1 percent, while they were 3-of-14 from long range for 21.4 percent.

The Golden Eagle defense came up big early on, holding a Northern State team that averages 78.6 points per game to just 28 in the first half. The Wolves shot 9-of-22 from the field for 40.9 percent and really struggled from three-point range, shooting 1-of-8 for 12.5 percent. Northern State is shooting 39.0 percent from trey on the year.

The Wolves picked things up in the second half, shooting 12-of-22 for 54.55 percent from the field and 3-of-8 from three for 37.5 percent. In addition, NSU was huge from the charity stripe, connecting on 17-of-22 shots for 77.3 percent. Northern State scored 44 points in the second half.

The Wolves were led on the game by forward Seth Bachand's 17 points and seven boards. Minnesota product Tydan Storrusten added 10 points and seven boards while Skye Warwick also had 10 points. Trent Zomer finished with nine points.

Northern State was 21-of-44 from the field for 47.7 percent on the night and 4-of-18 from three for 25.0 percent. In addition, they were 26-of-36 for 72.2 percent from the foul line.

The Golden Eagles would get out to an early 5-2 advantage Friday over the Wolves after a Brandon Burns (Sr., F, Baton Rouge, La./Sports and Rec Management) three at the 16:40 mark. The Golden Eagles would extend their advantage to 9-5 after West connected on a jumper at the 12:53 mark. The Wolves and Golden Eagles would continue going back-and-forth with UMC leading 20-16 following a Hughes lay-in with 6:55 left in the half.

Minnesota Crookston would then struggle over the next five minutes, unable to score a bucket. During this time, Northern State would go on a 10-0 run, to turn the tide of the half and go ahead 26-20 with 1:57 remaining.

The Golden Eagles would get back on track, cutting the lead to four as Redd played a solid final minutes for Minnesota Crookston with a pair of free throws and lay-up off an assist from Lubke as the clock ran out on the first half.

Northern State would come out of the locker room hitting on cylinders as they used a 9-2 run to push out to an 13-point advantage following a Jared Hannigan three with 17:24 left in the second half and a pair of Storrusten free throws.

UMC would climb back into the fray later in the second half following a pair of Lubke free throws and West jumper to get within nine points (43-34) with 13:52 left in the half.

The Golden Eagles would get to within eight following a pair of free throws by Hughes with 11:54 remaining
and would stay there until the 9:49 mark when Northern State used an 11-0 run to widen the gap to 19 points (63-44) with 7:41 remaining following a Bachand jumper.

Northern State would control the game the rest of the way as UMC struggled to hit anything for the remaining seven minutes, with the Wolves winning 72-49.

The Golden Eagles will return to the Lysaker Gymnasium floor Sat., Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. against Minnesota State University Moorhead.

 For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).