The Northern State men's basketball team needed help brushing off a pesky opponent led by a former Wolf Tuesday in Aberdeen.
The NSU bench responded and led the Wolves to a 76-50 win over Mayville State, coached by former Northern player Dan DeWitt. Mayville trailed 36-29 at halftime, but NSU picked up its defense and roared past the Comets.
"Our bench really gave us a lift and gave us some really good energy," NSU coach Paul Sather said. "And we did a really good job of competing, especially defensively, in the second half. We just played a lot harder, and that is a good way to go into the Christmas break."
The Wolves got 44 points from its bench. Seth Bachand led the way with nine points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Trent Zomer added 14 points and Skye Warwick 13. Warwick made three three-pointers, while fellow reserves Jared Hannigan, Mack Arvidson and Zomer each added one. Zomer also had two of NSU's 10 blocked shots.
"I like coming off the bench," Bachand said. "I just try to bring as much energy to the team that I can, and work as hard as I can, and help my team in any way I can."
Bachand certainly did that on both ends of the court in both halves. He scored seven of his points in the first half, had six of his rebounds in the second half and blocked three shots in each of the 20-minute periods.
The Wolves also got 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one steal from Collin Pryor.
After Mayville pulled to within five to start the second half, NSU used points by Zomer, Pryor and Bachand to take a 47-34 lead.
Sather also credited Mayville. "Coach DeWitt does a really good job and his players played hard."
In the first half, NSU senior standout Dustin Tetzlaff sprained his ankle. Tetzlaff said he was OK, and everyone anticipates he will be ready to go after the break. NSU had a busy first part of the season, playing 13 games, including three at the Disney Classic in California and one exhibition game.
This game was unique in it was an exhibition for NAIA Mayville and a game that counted for the NCAA Division II Wolves. NSU will return from Christmas break to host two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheaders at Wachs Arena in Aberdeen. The Wolves will host Bemidji State Jan. 4 (women at 6 p.m., men at 8 p.m.) and Minnesota-Crookston Jan. 5 (women at 5 p.m., men at 7 p.m.).
MAYVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY (4-7): Cody Coauette 0-2 0-0 0, Andrew Berge 1-3 0-0 2, Mike Lindsay 5-19 2-4 14, Steve Ivory Jr. 6-15 0-0 13, Austin Emerson 3-11 0-0 8, Sam Hyman 3-14 0-2 8, James Herr 2-4 0-0 5, Dan Diaz 0-0 0-0 0, Dexter Elliott 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-68 2-6 50.
NORTHERN STATE UNIVERSITY (9-3): Mitch White 0-1 0-0 0, Geoffrey Firmin 0-1 0-0 0, Michael Emge 4-7 1-1 10, Collin Pryor 6-16 4-4 16, Dustin Tetzlaff 3-5 0-0 6, Skye Warwick 4-7 2-2 13, Jared Hannigan 1-3 0-0 3, Mack Arvidson 2-4 0-0 5, Trent Zomer 5-7 3-3 14, Seth Bachand 4-5 1-4 9. Totals 29-56 11-14 76.
Halftime score - NSU 36-29. 3-point field goals - MSU 8-29 (Berge 0-2, Lindsay 2-9, Ivory Jr. 1-1, Emerson 2-9, Herr 1-3, Hyman 2-5); NSU 7-14 (White 0-1, Emge 1-3, Warwick 3-6, Hannigan 1-1, Arvidson 1-1, Zomer 1-1, Pryor 0-1). Total fouls - MSU 14; NSU 6. Fouled out - MSU, Elliott. Rebounds - MSU 33 (Lindsay 8); NSU 45 (Pryor 11). Turnovers - MSU 9; NSU 13. Assists - MSU 7 (Hyman 3); NSU 18 (White 4). Blocked Shots - MSU 0; NSU 10 (Bachand 6). Steals - MSU (); NSU (). Officials - Duane Fiala, Levi Pearson, EricDonat. A - 2,154.