North Dakota State gets best of UVSC hoopsters

FARGO, N.D. — The Utah Valley State men's basketball team lost at North Dakota State 61-52 Thursday evening. Tika Wesley led the Wolverines with 11 points while Matt Peterson had 10. Chris Bailey led the team in rebounding with five.

The Wolverines never led but did come within two points four times in the second half.

"I feel much better about our basketball team now than I have the last three games," Utah Valley State coach Dick Hunsaker said. "I thought we played with energy and competed."

The Wolverines were outrebounded 45-25.

North Dakota State led early, at 13-4 eight minutes into the game and 20-7 with 8:51 left in the half.

The Wolverines then went on a 9-0 run to come within four points at 20-16 following a basket by Wesley with 5:26 to play in the first half. Wesley scored five straight points to help Utah Valley come within three at 22-19 with 3:30 remaining.

But North Dakota State outscored the Wolverines 8-2 over the final three minutes of the half to give the Bison a 30-21 halftime lead.

In the second half, Peterson and David Heck scored the first 12 points to bring the Wolverines within two at 37-35. The Wolverines came within two at 43-41 and 45-43 following a basket by Wesley and two free throws by Sylvester Allison with 9:53 left in the game.

"I thought we fought tooth and nail to get back in the game," Hunsaker said. North Dakota State then scored the next seven points to lead 50-43. Allison hit a 3-pointer with 8:11 to play in the game to come within four at 50-46. UVSC would get no closer the rest of the way. The Wolverines were then held scoreless for the six minutes and North Dakota State extended its lead to 58-46 with three minutes left in the game.

The Wolverines return to action on Saturday when they play at South Dakota State at 6 p.m.