 Prime-degree sphere map forces primary torsion

If $S^n\to N$ has prime degree $p$ and $N$ is a closed connected oriented $n$-manifold, every integral homology group of $N$ in degrees strictly between zero and $n$ is a finite $p$-primary abelian group. Consequently one power of $p$ annihilates all these groups. The proof combines Poincare duality over each field ${\mathbb{F}}_q$, $q\ne p$, with the universal coefficient theorem for homology and finite generation.