SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Sioux Falls Cougars (11-7, 7-5 NSIC) showcased their depth and dominance in an 81-71 victory over the visiting Northern State Wolves (1-17, 0-12 NSIC) at the Stewart Center. Behind Creighton Morisch's monstrous 19-point, 18-rebound performance and Kyle Ingwerson's sharpshooting, the Cougars controlled the tempo and delivered crushing defensive stands. 

1st Half  

The Cougars established their presence immediately, racing to a 6-2 advantage as Shawn Warrior slashed through the lane and Taylen Ashley cleaned up a missed shot. Northern State briefly countered, but Ashley silenced their momentum with a deep three-pointer at the 15:42 mark, pushing USF ahead 9-5. 

The game's complexion changed midway through the half when Sioux Falls unleashed a devastating 14-5 surge. Warrior ignited the run with a lightning-quick transition finish before Morisch's steal and coast-to-coast layup brought the crowd to its feet. Ingwerson caught fire late in the period, burying two triples in the final six minutes to send the Cougars into halftime with a commanding 41-31 lead. 

The opening frame saw Sioux Falls shoot a precise 50% (16-of-32) while overwhelming the Wolves with 22 points in the paint. Their suffocating defense forced Northern State into hurried shots and a meager 38.9% shooting performance. 

2nd Half 

Morisch took center stage after the break, immediately asserting his will with consecutive baskets - a putback followed by a transition finish - to extend the margin to 45-31. Ingwerson kept the offense humming with a baseline jumper, while Puetz muscled his way to back-to-back scores that maintained the Cougars' grip on the game. 

Though Northern State mounted a challenge midway through the half, cutting the lead to single digits, Jack Cartwright and Ashley responded with momentum-crushing three-pointers. The Cougars demonstrated their veteran poise in the closing minutes, as Scales and Puetz calmly sank crucial free throws to ice the victory. Their defensive intensity never wavered, limiting Northern State to 34.8% from beyond the arc while forcing pivotal turnovers. 

Key Team Stats 

• Field Goal Percentage: The Cougars connected on 44.6% (29-of-65) from the floor and 34.6% (9-of-26) from distance. 

• Rebounding Dominance: USF controlled the glass with a decisive 47-39 edge, including 14 offensive rebounds. 

• Points in the Paint: A commanding 38-26 advantage in the lane highlighted the Cougars' interior supremacy. 

• Second-Chance Points: Both squads tallied 17 second-chance points, but USF's came at crucial junctures. 

• Assists: Sioux Falls' unselfish play resulted in 18 assists on 29 made baskets. 

Key Coo 

• Creighton Morisch: Delivered a masterclass with 19 points and 18 rebounds. 

• Kyle Ingwerson: Poured in 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including three daggers from deep, plus 4 rebounds. 

• Taylen Ashley: Filled the stat sheet with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. 

• Noah Puetz: Emerged with 16 crucial points and 4 assists. 

Up Next 

The Cougars are hitting the road for their next few games. They start next weekend with a Friday game at 5:30 PM at Halenbeck Hall against the St. Cloud State Huskies. On Saturday, they'll face the Bemidji State Beavers at 3:30 PM in BSU Gymnasium. 

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