Men’s Basketball Falls In Semifinals of NCAA DII Central Regional To Northern State, 68-61

Sunday, March 11

Maryville, MO

5 p.m.

St. Cloud State

24-9

Northern State University

33-3

St. Cloud State

Northern State

Gage Davis

Photo by: Bria Creeden

Men’s Basketball Falls In Semifinals of NCAA DII Central Regional To Northern State, 68-61

3/11/2018 7:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Maryville, Missouri – Despite getting a career-high 21 points from junior Sean Smith, the St. Cloud State men's basketball team (24-9) fell to Northern State (33-3) by a 68-61 score on Sunday, March 11, at Bearcat Arena on the campus of Northwest Missouri State in the semifinals of the NCAA DII Men's Basketball Tournament – Central Regional to end the 2017-18 campaign.

Smith shot an efficient 9-for-13 from the field. He also had nine rebounds and five blocks. Senior Jon Averkamp totaled 14 points and two assists. Junior Gage Davis recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season. He also had four assists and a steal. Senior Andy Foley picked up seven points, two rebounds and a steal. Junior Brindley Theisen had five points.

Northern State used a balance effort with Logan Doyle leading the team with his 14 points. He also had six rebounds. DJ Pollard picked up 12 points. Carter Evans had 11 points. Gabe King totaled 10 points. Ian Smith had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

St. Cloud State shot 41.4 percent from the field in the game (24-for-58), 28.6 percent from three-point range (6-for-21) and 63.6 percent from the free throw line (7-for-11). The Huskies totaled 32 rebounds, 10 assists, five blocks and five steals in the game. Northern State shot 46.8 percent shooting from the field (22-for-47). The team also shot 30 percent from three-point range (3-for-10) and 75 percent from the free throw line (21-for-28). Northern State had 34 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a steal.

St. Cloud State held a slight 32-30 lead at the break. The game featured just one tied score and one lead change despite being tightly contested throughout. The Huskies led for 34:21 of game time. Northern State took their first lead of the game with 4:46 remaining in the contest on a three from Darin Peterka, 56-55. After a missed SCSU shot, NSU extended it the lead to four points on another three from Peterka. The Huskies rallied and got to within a basket after three from Theisen made the score 61-59 with 2:13 seconds remaining in the game. A layup from Sean Smith put the team again within a basket with just under a minute remaining in the game, 63-61, but that was as close as the team would get after Doyle was fouled and hit both of his free throws to put the margin back at four. A pair of made free throws from Ian Smith closed it out and gave the Wolves a 68-61 victory.

Notes:
- The game was the final one in the careers of seniors Jon Averkamp and Andy Foley.
- Foley ended up being the all-time games played leader at SCSU with 125 as he passed Brett Putz (2008-12) after playing in the game against Northern State.
- Averkamp finished his career with 1,307 points to finish 22nd on the school's all-time scoring list.
- Averkamp ended his four years with 581 rebounds to place 17th on the school's career list.
- Averkamp's 14 points against NSU was the 28th time in 33 games that he has scored in double figures this season.
- Sean Smith led the team with a career-high 21 points.
- It was Smith's 22nd game in double figures this season.
- His five blocks was his 24th game this season in double figures in blocks.
- Smith finished his season with 88 blocks to pass Rado Rancik (1998-02) for fourth on the school's career list.
- Gage Davis, with 14 points against Northern State, scored in double figures in 24 of the 25 games that he has played in this season.
- The team went 19-6 when Davis played this year.
- His double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds was his seventh of the season and 31st of his career.
- The team's 24 wins on the campaign was the most since the 2009-10 season when that program picked up 29 games.
- The Huskies fell to 13-16 all-time in NCAA DII Tournament contests.
- The program ended the season winning 21 of the last 28 games.