ABERDEEN, S.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead men's basketball team dropped its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener to Northern State on Saturday night, 70-54 in Aberdeen, S.D. MSUM cut an 18-point first half lead to seven in the second half before falling short.

MSUM falls to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in the NSIC while NSU improves to 5-2 and 1-0 in the NSIC.

Senior guard Addison Park led the Dragons with 21 points and nine rebounds. Freshman guard Gavin Baumgartner followed with 12 points and seven rebounds. Freshman guard Siman Sem led the team with two assists and three steals.

MSUM shot 36.1 percent (22-of-61) from the field compared to 38.5 percent (25-of-65) from the Wolves.

Northern pulled ahead 33-15 in the first half, but the Dragons would go on a 7-0 run to bring the score to 33-22 going into halftime. Junior guard Johnny Beeninga had four points on the run.

MSUM cut the lead to 44-37 at the 12:23 mark in the second half off a jumper from freshman guard Bryce Irsfeld. The Dragons were within 54-45 with 6:25 left but got no closer.

Beeninga had eight points for MSUM, which shot 36.1 percent for the game.

The Dragons are back on the road next week as they travel to face Minnesota Crookston on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Bemidji State on Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m.