LINCOLN, Neb. (November 29, 2024) – Nebraska Wesleyan opened the 35th annual Snyder Classic with a commanding 81-57 victory over Northwestern-St. Paul on Friday evening at Snyder Arena. A combination of efficient offense and stifling defense propelled the Prairie Wolves to their fourth win of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Prairie Wolves wasted no time establishing their dominance, racing to a double-digit lead just seven minutes into the first half. Crisp ball movement and lights-out shooting, including three-pointers from Jared Townsley, Seth Newton and Andrew Brewer, fueled a 11-4 run that left Northwestern-St. Paul reeling.

Nebraska Wesleyan's defense shined, forcing turnovers that led to fast-break opportunities. Christian Winn's court vision was on full display as he orchestrated the offense with precision, finding open shooters and driving lanes to the basket. The Prairie Wolves capitalized on second-chance points, outscoring the Eagles 16-11 in that category.

The first half ended with the Prairie Wolves firmly in control, 52-29. Their tenacious defense held Northwestern-St. Paul to just 40.7% shooting while limiting them to a single three-pointer before halftime.

In the second half, the Prairie Wolves maintained their intensity, pushing the lead to as much as 26 points. Jared Townsley, Nick Howard and Andrew Brewer provided a spark off the bench, while Jack Groeteke delivered a highlight-worthy alley-oop that brought the crowd to its feet. Northwestern-St. Paul managed a late push, but it was not enough to overcome Nebraska Wesleyan's balanced scoring and defensive presence.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Points in the Paint: NWU outscored Northwestern-St. Paul 32-30 in the lane.
• Field Goal Shooting: The Prairie Wolves shot an efficient 47.1% from the field, compared to just 38.9% by the Eagles.
• Bench Production: NWU's bench dominated, outscoring Northwestern-St. Paul's reserves 41-12.

KEY PERFORMERS

• Nick Howard: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 7-of-10 shooting.
• Jack Groeteke: 16 points, 4-of-7 from three-point range, 4 rebounds.
• Christian Winn: 12 points, 6 assists, 1 steal.
• Jared Townsley: 12 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds.
• Andrew Brewer: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists.

UP NEXT

Nebraska Wesleyan will look to close out the Snyder Classic on a high note as they host the tournament finale on Saturday, November 30th. The Prairie Wolves tip-off against a strong Concordia-Moorhead team is at 5:00 PM in Snyder Arena.

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