Spartan Men fall to NDSCS

Published 12:48 a.m., November 19, 2009

By Jon Weisbrod

Daily Journal

WAHPETON, N.D. — M-State men’s basketball coach Jason Retzlaff knows what to expect when he squares off against North Dakota State College of Science.

He knows the Wildcats boast several players that will someday go on and play at the NCAA Division I or II level.

Look at it this way: According to www.iHoops.com, as a NJCAA Division I institution, NDSCS could have as many as 15 players on a full athletic scholarship on the basketball team.

M-State, as a NJCAA D-III school, has none.

Everything from the enrollment, to the lighting, to the seating, to the sizable scoreboard hanging from the high ceiling inside the cavernous gymnasium at the Wahpeton, N.D. college screams “Division I.”

But none of that mattered Wednesday night.

When the two teams hit the hardwood for a nonconference contest at Clair T. Blikre Activities Center, the Spartans came at the Wildcats as if they where playing any other team on their schedule.

And for the better part of 11 minutes to start the game, the action was about as even as you could get.

But then the ‘Cats caught fire and eventually won 88-72.

After playing to a 21-21 tie with 9 minutes, 26 seconds on the clock, NDSCS closed out the first half on a 27-12 run, grabbing a 48-33 lead at the break and seizing firm control of the game.

“We didn’t play as consistent as I would have liked,” Retzlaff said. “In order to compete, you need to come and play for 40 minutes. Otherwise, you’re going to get beat.”

The intermission did little to cool down the Wildcats as they drained three 3-pointers within the first four minutes of the second half, mounting a 20 point lead when Hanif Nixon-Hughes connected from downtown with 16:25 remaining.

NDSCS made up for a somewhat sloppy offensive performance (19 turnovers) with deadly shooting from beyond the arc. Despite missing their final four 3-pointers, the ‘Cats finished 44 percent from deep (7-for-16).

The Spartans, on the other hand, struggled from 3-point land, connecting on just 6 of 23 shots from beyond the arc.

“We started rushing things a little bit on offense,” Retzlaff said. “I think we took a number of shots a little too early in the possession.”

The Wildcats also owned the paint, scoring 16 second-chance points while connecting on 56 percent of their shots, many of which came within eight feet of the basket.

“I would guess they (NDSCS) are the best team we will play this season,” Retzlaff said. “It’s a scholarship school and they’re good — really good.”

NDSCS’s starting rotation, which included four players 6-foot-4 or taller, accounted for all but two of the Wildcats’ points.

Richmond, VA product Aaron Morris led the offensive charge for NDSCS (6-1) with 25 points while swingman Nixon-Hughes added 20. The pair combined for 16 rebounds while Nixon-Hughes dished out a team-high six assists.

Pre-season NJCAA D-III All-American Jordan Johsnrud registered his first 20-point performance of the season, scoring exactly 20 while snaring nine rebounds.

Wiley Jiles had another productive outing for the Spartans (2-2) with 19 points and six rebounds.

M-State scored 23 points off turnovers while NDSCS netted just seven.

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