Wolfpack Split New Year Opening Double Header Against the Pilots

Bemidji, MN – After two hard fought battles from both teams, this weekend's double-header against the Providence University College Pilots of Manitoba, Canada was split which gives the Wolfpack a 1-1 record to start to the 2025 year.

The first game on Friday night saw Oak Hills as the winners, with a final score of 77-69. The first half ended with the Wolfpack up by 8 points with the score at 36-28. Senior Alexander Gonzalez (Miami, FL) led all scorers with 10 points and 4 assists. He also went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Oak Hills had forced the Pilots to have 13 turnovers off of 11 steals and some good defense during the first half.

The second half saw the Wolfpack push their lead to 43-31 at the 17 minute mark, but then didn't see a point for Oak Hills until the 11:50 mark. This drought allowed the Pilots to gain back some ground and Oak Hills would call a time out after a made free throw with the score sitting at 44-41.

The Pilots would have their first lead since the 16:42 minute mark of the first half, after a made three-pointer would put them up 54-55 with 5:50 left in the game. Oak Hills would get the lead back during the next possession after Gonzalez would sink two free-throws to put them up 56-55.

The final minutes of the game would be a back and forth battle where the lead would be kept close. Some key free-throws made down the stretch by many of the Wolfpack players would help to seal the first victory of the New Year for the team.

The final buzzer sounded with the score showing 77-69. Gonzalez would lead all scorers with a career-high 24 points and 6 assists. Freshman Caleb Smoot (McDonough, GA) would add 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals to the night. Freshman Noah Larson (Park Rapids, MN) would be just shy of getting his 6^th straight game with a double-double. He added 16 points and 9 rebounds. Freshman Ben Chavez Rodriguez (Woodbury, MN) also had a great rebounding game. He added 7 points and 9 rebounds.

The teams would have less than 24 hours before they would turn around and battle again. This contest would see the Pilots scrape out a well-fought victory after a 3-pointer made with 16 seconds left in the game would give them the final edge in points. The final score of this second game ended 65-68.

The game would go back and forth as both teams were still familiar with each other's play from the previous night. But a 3-pointer from Senior Deacon Bock (Blaine, MN) would push the Wolfpack's lead to 16-9 with 12:42 left in the half. With a layup from the Pilots, followed by two 3s from Oak Hills, the Wolfpack would push their lead up even more and would put the score at 22-11 with 10 minutes left in the half.

The Pilots would continue to try to cut into the lead, but Oak Hills was able to hold them off and head into the locker rooms at the half up 42-35.

Larson would lead all scorers at the half with 17 points. He also added 4 rebounds. Gonzalez would also be in double-digits for points at the half with 10.

The second half began with a back and forth fight to close the gap from the Pilots, and at the 13:12 mark of the half, they would tie the game up at 48-48 after a free throw.

Over the next 10 minutes of play, there would be 12 lead changes, as neither team could push their lead past 2 points. A 3-pointer with 3:20 left would give the Pilots a 2 point lead at 63-65.

There would be no points scored during the next 3 minutes until a layup from Smoot with 25 seconds left would tie the game at 65-65. Then a corner 3-pointer just a few seconds later from the Pilots would seem to be the game winner and would put the final score at 65-68 and give the Pilots the victory.

Larson would hit his career high in points and would end the game with 29 points and 8 rebounds. Smoot would add a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Gonzalez would contribute 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists on the day.

The Wolfpack are back in action with a split double-header next weekend. They will host the Leach Lake Tribal College Basketball team on Friday, January 17^th at 6:30. The team will then be hosted by the Lakers the next day at 1 pm.