MARSHALL, Minn.--Northern State's Matt Hammer scored a game- and season-high 28 points to lead the Wolves to a 79-72 men's basketball win over North Dakota State in the U.S. Bancorp Classic on Friday, Nov. 26, at Southwest Minnesota State.

Northern State, ranked 16th in Division II and favored to win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, hit 9 of 12 three-pointers in the second half to put the Bison (0-3) away.

After North Dakota State tied the game at 46 with 13:16 to play, the Wolves (5-0) put together a 17-5 run over the next seven minutes and led by double-digits into the final minute of the game.

The Bison led 33-31 at halftime despite Hammer's 15 first-half points and Northern's 50-percent shooting.

NDSU used an 11-2 run late in the first half to take the lead.  Three free-throws from guard Matt Gerber, a pair of 3-pointers from Phil Hahn, and a jumper from Andrew Brown gave the Herd a 33-26 advantage before the Wolves closed the gap.

Hammer, a 6-foot-3 forward, finished 11-for-15 in the game including two 3-pointers and 4-for-7 from the free-throw line.  Craig Nelson added 11 points and Aaron Busack chipped in 10 for Northern State.

Hahn was North Dakota State's leading scorer for the second straight outing.  He scored 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting including three 3-pointers and a 5-of-5 effort at the free-throw line.

Three other Bison scored in double figures.  Myron Green and David Erbes had 13 points apiece and Andy Kelchen scored 11.  Green had a game-high nine rebounds.

NSU's win was the 798th for Wolves head coach Don Meyer, who ranks seventh in all-time career coaching victories.

North Dakota State will face U.S. Bancorp Classic host Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday.  Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.