CROOKSTON, Minn. – A 32-9 run to end the first half would guide Northern State University to a 109-68 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team. The Golden Eagles would be knotted up with the Wolves 20-20 with 9:55 left in the first half. They would be out-scored 89-48 for the rest of the game. The Golden Eagles struggled to slow down the Wolves on the night as they allowed them to shoot 57.6 percent for the game. Northern State also controlled the glass as they out-rebounded UMC 41-24 on the night, while giving up 12 offensive boards to the Wolves.

Minnesota Crookston drops to 3-6 (0-4 NSIC) with the loss on Saturday. Northern State improves to 7-4 (3-2 NSIC) with the victory.

The Golden Eagles would be led by Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.), who finished with 16 points. Cleary would shoot 35.2 percent for the game as he was 6-of-17. Minnesota Crookston struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 5-of-21 for 23.8 percent. Jim Warmack (Jr., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) added nine points, as did Connor Gamble (R-Fr., G, Stillwater, Minn.). Gamble was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Chase Knickerbocker (So., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) chipped in eight points.

Minnesota Crookston was 24-of-55 for 43.6 percent from the field. The Golden Eagles shot 15-of-20 from the charity stripe for 75 percent.

Northern State would go 38-of-66 for 57.6 percent from the field. The Wolves were 10-of-19 for 52.6 percent from beyond the arc. Northern State also was clutch from the charity stripe, finishing 23-of-25 for 92 percent.

The Wolves had six players score in double-figures for the game. Ian Smith led the way for Northern State with his ability to facilitate things for Northern State. Smith would have 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Logan Doyle came off the bench for 17 points and six rebounds. Doyle was 77-of-9 from the field.

D.J. Pollard added 13 points and seven rebounds. Carter Evans chipped in 12, as did Bo Fries. Mack Arvidson finished with 11 points.

The Wolves would take the early lead on UMC 12-8 after a three-point play from Doyle. The Golden Eagles would be able to come right back and knot things up at 12-12 after baskets from Warmack and Cleary.

The Golden Eagles would go up 20-17 on Northern State after a Knickerbocker jumper. Northen State would come right back and knot things up at 20-20 on a Smith old-fashioned three-point play with 9:55 remaining.

The Wolves would build a run off of Smith's play as they scored the next 13 points to go up 30-20 with 7:18 left in the half. The run was led by three-pointers from Justin Decker and Gabe King.

Critchley would stop the run for the moment to get UMC within 30-22 with 6:56 left in the half.

However, Northern State bounced right back with a 9-2 run to make it 39-24 on a Braxton Elliott trey.

The Wolves would make it 52-29 going into the break on a Decker last-second trey.

UMC would start out the second half on a 5-0 run led by a Gable Smith trey to make it 52-34 with 18:43 left in the half.

The Wolves pushed their lead out to 23 on a Ian Smith jumper. UMC would be able to cut the lead down to 20 on a Gable Smith old-fashioned three-point play.

 However, Northern State would come right back and go on a 5-0 run culminating in an Ian Smith bucket to make it 66-41.

UMC would get the deficit back down to 20 with 12:43 remaining on a Gamble three-pointer. However, that is as close as the Golden Eagles would get. 

Northern State would lead by as many as 37 (90-53) with 6:01 remaining. The Wolves would take a 109-68 win over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Thurs., Dec. 15 against Bemidji State University at 7 p.m. at Lysaker Gymnasium.