ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon men's basketball team assembled a late run to challenge Northern State University, but clutch free throw shooting down the stretch sealed the 86-80 victory for the Wolves.

The first half between the Dragons and the Wolves was a battle consisting of nine lead changes and eight tied scores.

The largest lead of the first half belonged to the Dragons after an Andrew VanHavermaet three-pointer gave his team a four point lead at the 9:16 mark, 17-21.

The Wolves would rally behind a ten point first half performance from Collin Pryor as he hit a jumper at the end of the half to put Northern State up three, 39-36.

Despite the first half's back-and-fourth rhythm, the second half lead would be solely held by the Wolves.

Jake Driscoll would start the half with a jumper to bring the Dragons within one, but the Wolves would answer with an 9-0 run to take a 48-38 lead at the 17:01 mark.

Northern State would grow their led to as much as 12 points with two minutes remaining when MSU Moorhead's Charlie Chapman popped back-to-back three-pointers to crawl within six points.

Chapman would add another layup with :31 seconds remaining to cut the Dragon deficit to four, but the Dragons would be forced to foul and the Wolves would convert 81.8 percent of their free throws in the second half to seal the victory, 86-80.

The Wolves got another solid performance from Pryor who assembled 24 points on 9-of-14 from the floor, adding 6-of-7 from the free throw line.

The Dragons were led in scoring by Driscoll with 16 points.  Chapman would add 15 points, Dennis Williamson would post 14 points and Alex Novak would notch another double-double with 15 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The loss drops the Dragon men to 11-8 overall and 8-7 in the NSIC.  The Dragons return to action on Saturday, Feb. 5 against the University of Mary Marauders at 8 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D.

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