ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Cougars opened the I Hate Winter weekend in commanding fashion Friday night, earning an 81–65 road win over Northern State inside Wachs Arena. Sioux Falls set the tone early and never looked back, using balanced scoring, suffocating perimeter defense, and relentless second-chance opportunities to secure a wire-to-wire NSIC victory in one of the league's toughest road environments.
Game Summary
Sioux Falls delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, locking in defensively while sharing the basketball at an elite level. The Cougars held Northern State to just 38.5 percent shooting from the field and 14.8 percent from three-point range, limiting the Wolves to a frigid four made triples on 27 attempts. Northern couldn't buy a bucket from deep, and USF made them pay.
Offensively, USF played through multiple contributors with beautiful ball movement, finishing with 16 assists on 33 made baskets while committing just seven turnovers for the entire game. The execution was crisp. The passing was unselfish. The offense flowed.
The Cougars also dominated the rebounding and transition categories, outrebounding Northern State 46–38 and turning 13 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points. Fast-break execution proved to be another separator, as Sioux Falls outscored the Wolves 12–0 in transition—running the floor and capitalizing on every opportunity. Four Cougars scored in double figures, led by Brogan Madson and Taylen Ashley, as USF steadily built and maintained its advantage throughout the night.
How It Happened
First Half
Sioux Falls seized momentum early behind a strong offensive rhythm and sharp perimeter defense. Brogan Madson carried the scoring load in the opening half, pouring in 15 points while knocking down three three-pointers and attacking from multiple levels. Kyle Ingwerson provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, keeping the offense rolling. Bryon Laue controlled the glass with six rebounds, while Taylen Ashley facilitated the offense with four assists.
The Cougars shot 5-of-13 from beyond the arc in the half while clamping down defensively, holding Northern State to a dismal 2-of-14 from three. A 7–0 run helped push the lead to as many as 17 points with just over four minutes remaining in the half. Sioux Falls also owned a 5–0 edge in fast-break points, pushing the tempo and creating easy opportunities.
The Cougars went into the locker room with a 44–33 advantage, in control and playing with confidence.
Second Half
Sioux Falls maintained control after the break by continuing to defend the three-point line and winning the effort plays. Taylen Ashley took over offensively in the second half, scoring 13 points. Madson added eight points and five assists to keep the Cougars organized, efficient, and in complete control.
Northern State struggled to find any consistent offense, shooting a brutal 11-of-30 from the field and just 2-of-13 from deep in the half. The Wolves couldn't solve USF's defensive pressure and couldn't get anything going from the perimeter.
The Cougars made their presence felt on the glass, collecting nine offensive rebounds that led to 11 second-chance points in the half alone. Sioux Falls also pushed the pace effectively, outscoring the Wolves 7–0 in fast-break points after halftime. USF outscored Northern State 37–32 in the second half and closed out the 81–65 win with disciplined execution on both ends—never letting the Wolves make a real run or get back in the game.
Coach's Corner
"Thought we played a pretty complete 40 minutes on both ends. We shared the ball, had several guys play well. Defensively, I thought we took a good step tonight. We were locked in on the scout and really competed."
— Head Coach Chris Johnson
Key Coo
Key Team Stats
- Defense: USF held Northern State to 38.5 percent shooting and a frigid 4-of-27 (14.8 percent) from three. The perimeter defense was suffocating.
- Rebounding: The Cougars won the battle 46–38 and turned 13 offensive boards into 20 second-chance points. Extra possessions led to extra points.
- Ball Movement: Sioux Falls recorded 16 assists on 33 made field goals. Unselfish, high-IQ basketball.
- Turnovers: USF committed just seven turnovers for the game. They took care of the basketball and executed cleanly.
- Transition: The Cougars outscored the Wolves 12–0 in fast-break points, running the floor and capitalizing on every opportunity.
Up Next
Sioux Falls continues its northern road trip Saturday, January 31, traveling to Jamestown to face the Jimmies at 5:00 p.m.
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