The Wolves, who have won their last four games by an average of 5.5 points, remained undefeated on the season and now stand at 5-0 overall and 1-0 in league play while the Golden Bears slipped to 3-2 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.
NSU did not win the shooting percentage battle in any of the three periods, but what they lacked in first-time opportunities, they made up in second-chance points. In a battle that was otherwise equal, the Wolves scored 26 points off offensive rebounds to just 12 for the Golden Bears.
Sophomore forward Collin Pryor had two of the biggest of those 26 second-effort points when forged the game’s seventh tie with 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Down by two with under 15 seconds left, NSU’s Derek Hoellein misfired on a contested 3-pointer from the far corner. Pryor, however, was there to gather up the offensive rebound and put it back up and in with 1.5 seconds left.
CSP then burned their final two timeouts on the ensuing throw-in. After the second huddle, the Golden Bears tried to go deep with the in-bounds pass, but CSP’s Courtney Tyler’s pass ricocheted off Pryor’s outstretched arm and into the air. Pryor managed to come down with the ball with both feet in bounds in the corner and call NSU’s final timeout just two-tenths of a second before the final buzzer sounded.
With enough time left for a tip-in, but not enough for a catch-and-shoot play, NSU sophomore Dustin Tetzlaff drew the green light for the ally-oop in-bounds play, but his shot bounced off the far rim as the buzzer sounded, sending the game into extra minutes.
CSP appeared to take control of the game after opening the overtime stanza with a 6-2 mini-run and stretching their lead to six at 93-87 with 1:18 showing on the clock. Pryor again gave the spark they needed, converting on a 3-point play. Tetzlaff followed with another offensive rebound and put-back to pull the Wolves to within one at 92-93.
Junior point guard David Lane then put the Wolves ahead for good on back-to-back plays. Lane drew CSP’s Peter Olafeso into an offensive foul before converting the turnover into a lead with a driving lay-up down the right side of the lane.
Another Olafeso turnover later, the NSU redshirt freshman Tydan Storrusten made one of two free throws to make it a two-point affair. The Golden Bears again turned the ball over on the ensuing throw-in play, and Storrusten converted on another one of two free throw attempts. Following his second miss, however, he immediately fouled CSP’s Isaiah Thomas before he could get off a three-point attempt.
Thomas made his first free throw attempt, then intentionally missed the second. Pryor was there to haul in the defensive rebound for the Wolves and preserve the victory.
Pryor finished the night with a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, his third straight. Senior Tom Parks put up a game-best 23 points on the strength of 4-of-7 shooting from downtown and 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Tetzlaff added 19 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Alex Thomas chipped in 10 off the bench, all in the first half.
The Golden Bears got 22 and 21 points from Olafeso and Tyler, respectively. Kenny Olafeso added 19, while junior Brent Barz came off the bench for 17 points and four blocked shots. The Olafeso twins each had nine boards for CSP.
The Wolves will be back at it tomorrow night, taking on 2009-10 national semifinalist St. Cloud State in another NSIC match-up. The Huskies are coming off an 84-81 overtime loss at the hands of the University of Mary on Friday and are just 1-4 on the season heading into Saturday’s game. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. in NSU’s Wachs Arena.
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