ABERDEEN, S.D. --- The Hardrockers started slow and were never able to recover in a lopsided defeat to Northern State on Friday night.

The first half started a bit sloppy with both teams turning the ball over early and Northern State getting out to an early 7-3 lead. Kolten Mortensen hit a free throw, then moments later drilled a three-pointer, tying up the game at 7, and that would be the score heading into the first media timeout. After that, Northern state would pick up some momentum, with a 13-2 run catapulting them out to a 20-12 lead going into the under-10 media timeout. Out of the timeout, a Mortensen foul would give him an early 2. After an 11-0 Wolves run, Kolten Frugoli would get a layup to go, stopping the bleeding and making the deficit 27-14. The Hardrocker offense was not able to get going, and going into the locker rooms, the score was 41-24, with Northern State leading.

To start the second half, the Hardrocker offense would get going a little quicker, but the Wolves were answering, going up 52-29, before Rama would hit another three, cutting the deficit to 20. The deficit would remain the same at the first media, with Northern State leading 55-35. A layup by Mortensen off the feed from Jaxon Lloyd would cut the deficit to 18, 62-44. At the 2^nd media, the Hardrockers couldn't make up any ground, down 66-44. The Hardrockers were not able to get stops throughout the game, and despite the improved second-half offense, couldn't make up any ground, falling, 78-55.

Up Next
The Hardrockers will need to have a short memory, as they don't have much of a turnaround until they take on the #20 team in the country Augustana, tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. MT.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.