CROOKSTON, Minn. – Northern State University used an 8-2 run at the end of the first half to help lift them to an 88-75 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team. The Wolves were led by their strong three-point shooting as they were 10-of-18 for 55.6 percent. Northern State was magnificent from deep in the first half as they were 10-of-12 from beyond the arc for 83.3 minutes going into the break. In addition, Northern State used 15 offensive rebounds and an edge on the boards of 37-30 to help secure the victory.

The Golden Eagles remain on their best start in program history with a 7-4 (1-2 NSIC) mark. Northern State improves to 7-2 (3-0 NSIC) with the win. The Wolves have won the last 13 games in the series over Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles need just three wins to tie their NCAA Division II program-record of 10 wins in a season set during the 2017-18 campaign.

Minnesota Crookston had three players score in double-figures on the evening. Harrison Cleary (Jr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) finished off a great weekend with 25 points on 9-of-25 from the field, 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Cleary finished the weekend averaging 36 points on the weekend. He shot 47.2 percent from the field, 66.7 percent from beyond the arc, and an unblemished 100 percent from the stripe on the weekend. Cleary moved to 22^nd all-time in scoring in the NSIC surpassing Jacob Fahl of Southwest Minnesota State University. He needs six points to surpass Kevin Ratzsch of Northern State University for 21^st place and seven points to move past Cole Olstad of Concordia Univesrity-St. Paul for 20^th all-time.

Gable Smith (R-Sr., F/C, Lodi, Wis.) was a stat-stuffer on the night for the Golden Eagles with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-10 from the field. Smith had six offensive boards on the game. In addition, he notched four blocks, three assists, and two steals.

Chase Knickerbocker (Sr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) added 21 points on 8-of-13 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Brian Sitzmann (R-Fr., G, Savage, Minn.) secured four steals on the evening.

Minnesota Crookston finished 29-of-65 from the field for 44.6 percent. The Golden Eagles were 8-of-20 from beyond the arc for 40.0 percent, and 9-of-12 for 75.0 percent from the foul line.

Northern State was led by Parker Fox off the bench with 21 points and seven rebounds on 7-of-14 from the field. Ian Smith guided the offense with his great passing as he had 11 assists, he completed a double-double with 12 points. Gabe King notched 12 points, including three triples, while Bo Fries added double-double of 13 points and 10 boards.
The Wolves were 28-of-54 for 51.9 percent from the field. They shot 10-of-18 for 55.6 percent from beyond the arc and 22-of-30 for 73.3 percent from the line.

Northern State started the game out with back-to-back treys from Andrew Kallman to jump out to an early 6-0 lead. Minnesota Crookston pulled within 9-6 in the early going on a Smith basket. The Wolves continued their hot shooting from three-point land as Jordan Belka triple extended the lead to 15-10.

The Golden Eagles would be able to come back and knot the game up 17-17 with 12:24 left in the first half on a Knickerbocker bucket. However, the Wolves caught fire from three again with back-to-back makes from Cole Dahl and Mason Stark to push the lead out to 23-17. After a Knickerbocker bucket cut the deficit back to four, Northern State countered with triples from Dahl and Fries to push the advantage out to 29-19. A Justin Decker basket extended the lead further to 31-19.

The Golden Eagles would come back and cut the deficit down to five propelled by four points by Knickerbocker as they trailed 33-28 with 6:22 left in the opening period. A Fox bucket for the Wolves pushed the lead back out to eight, but Minnesota Crookston came right back and cut the lead to three points on a Cleary jumper. Northern State widened the gap back out to nine led by a Stark jumper and a Fox old-fashioned three-point lead as they went into the locker room up 47-38.

The Wolves pushed their advantage out to 13 at 53-40 on a Decker bucket early in the second half. Minnesota Crookston took the lead down to 11 on a Smith bucket. However, Northern State fired back as they went up 19 on a Fox free throw with 14:10 left in the game.

The Golden Eagles sliced away at the lead as they got the deficit back down to nine on a Smith jumper to cut it to 69-60 with 8:18 remaining.

Four-consecutive points from Fox pushed the Northern State lead back out to 73-60. The Golden Eagles kept trying to cut into the lead as they took it back down to nine with 1:39 remaining on a Knickerbocker trey. However, the Wolves iced the game propelled by four Smith free throws as they won 88-75.

Minnesota Crookston returns to action Sat., Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. against Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D.