Box Score Kyle Kilgore scored off a short jumper just before the final horn as #14 Dakota State handed Northwestern a 90-89 last second loss tonight in Madison, S.D.
Down six (83-77) with under three minutes left, Northwestern rallied late and after a three-pointer by Derek Buysse, tied the game at 85 with 69 seconds on the clock. Kilgore followed with a free throw to go up one and the teams traded baskets, a jumper by Nathan Wedel for NWC and a floater by Kilgore, to keep the Trojans lead at one, 88-87, with 26 seconds to go.
After a Red Raider timeout, Northwestern worked the ball around to Colton Kooima, who knocked down a go-ahead jumper with six seconds remaining only to have Kilgore break free in the paint to score the game-winner with no time remaining.
Five Northwestern players scored in double figures, led by Buysse, a transfer from Minnesota West, who netted a team-high 21 points in his Red Raider debut. The junior buried five three-pointers and also pulled down eight rebounds. Wedel netted 19 points, going 8-for-12 from the field, and Kooima added 18 points, six rebounds and five assists.
The Red Raiders blistered the nets at 61% in the first half as they opened up a 49-45 halftime lead. Kooima led the way with 13 points while Buysse chipped in 11 over the first 20 minutes.
Northwestern threatened to pull away early in the second half, extending its lead to nine (63-54) following a put-back by Wedel at the 14-minute mark. Dakota State went on a 16-6 run however, and grabbed its first lead of the second half on a field goal by Kevin Daniels, 79-69. The hosts pushed the lead to as much as seven (81-74) over the final minutes before Northwestern began its comeback.
Northwestern shot 55% for the game, 44% (12-for-27) from the three-point line. Justin Van Kalsbeek scored 10 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the first double-double of his career. Riley Francis added 10 points and four boards.
Tanner Heiser led all scorers with 35 points, draining 7-of-14 three-point attempts. Kilgore scored 18, including his team's final five points. Dakota State shot 49% from the field but Northwestern held the edge on the boards, 39-29.
