Dakota 131, Tulsa 108

BISMARCK, N.D., Dec. 21 -- Behind Wizards forward Rod Benson’s sixth straight double-double, the Dakota Wizards rolled to a 131-108 win over the Tulsa 66ers on Friday. Benson finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds on 8-of-11 shooting from the floor in 35 minutes.

“The ball went in the hoop tonight”, said Wizards head coach Duane Ticknor. "Our guys played with some intensity tonight and it was great for our home fans to see."

The Wizards only trailed off the tip and were led in scoring by forward Carlos Powell, who had 28 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The Wizards grabbed a 34-point lead in the fourth quarter, while shooting 56 percent from the field.

All of Dakota’s starters finished in double digits. Forward David Palmer, starting in the place of injured center Kevin Lyde, finished with a season-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Guard Dontell Jefferson finished the night with 18 points, while Maurice Baker nailed 16 to go along with five assists. Guard Blake Ahaern had 16 points in the victory.

The 66ers were led in scoring off the bench by newly assigned Mavericks guard Maurice Ager, who had 21 points on the night, while the other assigned Mavericks guard Ramon Sessions finished with 18 points and a game-high eight assists.

The Wizards, now 6-4 and in sole possession of first place in the Central Division, face the Vipers from Rio Grand Valley Texas for the only match up in the Civic Center this season. Tulsa drops to 4-5 on the season and look to get back to their winning ways on Sunday as they face the Energy from Iowa in a Sunday matinee.