Box Score Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – For the second time this season the St. Scholastica men's basketball team had to play more than 40 minutes as the Saints defeated North Central University 78-74 tonight in overtime.
The victory gives the Saints a 2-3 overall record, while the Rams fall to 1-3 overall. The Saints improve to 13-2 all-time against the Rams.
Just like the women's game, the first six minutes was tight with the score tied at 9-9. The Saints then went on an 8-0 run to take a 17-9 lead. The Rams responded with a 9-0 run to regain lead at 18-17 with nine minutes to go in the half. The lead changed hands until CSS went on a 9-0 run to take a 28-20 advantage with 4:28 remaining before halftime. The Saints had a 36-24 lead at the half.
The Saints shot 46-percent in the first half and held North Central to 35-percent. St. Scholastica out-scored North Central 20-6 in the paint in the half.
A #Troy Miller# (Sr.-Stillwater, Minn.) lay-up gave the Saints a 14-point lead a minute into the second half. The Rams got the lead back down to six, but CSS got the margin back up to 10 with 11 minutes to play. The Saints had an eight-point lead with five minutes to play, but the Rams scored the next five points to cut it to three. CSS then had a six-point lead with a minute to play, but North Central nailed a 3-pointer to cut it to three. Then after a Saints turnover, the Rams connected on another 3-pointer to send the game into overtime.
The lead traded hands early in overtime, but a 3-point play by #Derek Anderson# (So.-Cook, Minn.) and a couple of free throws by #Danny Schmitz# (So.-Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson) at the end gave the Saints a 78-74 victory.
Both teams shot 45-percent from the field for the game. CSS was 19-for-25 from the free throw line, while the Rams were 8-for-12. The Rams out-rebounded the Saints 39-34.
St. Scholastica had six players score in double-figures. #Kyle Allen# (Sr.-Black River Falls, Wis.) and Troy Miller (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) both had 12 points to lead the Saints. Miller also had a team-high seven rebounds. #Max Dibrell# (Jr.-Duluth, Minn./East) had a collegiate-high 10 points. Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS), #Bryan Johnson# (Fr.-Randolph, Wis.), and #Mike MacDonald# (Sr.-Two Harbors, Minn.) also had 10 points. Daniel Young had a game-high 23 points for the Rams.
The Saints return home Friday when they open up Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action when they host Northwestern College. The game will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's game at Reif Gym.
