Box Score Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team snapped a losing skid tonight with a 62-43 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan University at the Presentation Classic.

The Saints had lost eight in a row coming into tonight, but are now 2-9 with the triumph over the Prairie Wolves. Nebraska Wesleyan falls to 3-7 overall. This was the fifth meeting between the two programs and the first CSS victory in the series.

In a low scoring first half, the Saints jumped out to a 7-2 lead, only to have the Prairie Wolves score the next six to take an 8-7 lead. Nebraska Wesleyan had a 13-12 lead with five minutes left in the half until the Saints went on an 8-0 run, thanks to six points from #Danny Schmitz# (Jr.-Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson). CSS went into halftime with a 22-16 advantage.

The Saints shot 38-percent from the field in the first 20 minutes, while the Prairie Wolves shot just 29-percent. CSS had eight steals in the half, which led to 11 points.

Junior #Chris Hamers# (Jr.-Onamia, Minn.) took over in the second half as he poured in 21 of his career-high 26 points. Nebraska Wesleyan kept it close, trialing by only six with 13 minutes to go. Hamers was then fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws.

A little later Hamers would hit three, 3-pointers in the span of 1:20 seconds to extend the CSS lead to 49-30. The Saints led by as much as 25 points as it took care of the Prairie Wolves by a final score of 62-43.

St. Scholastica shot 61-percent in the second to finish at 49-percent for the game. The Prairie Wolves shot just 19-percent in the second half to finish at 23-percent for the game. Nebraska Wesleyan made just 12 field goals, which set a CSS record for fewest field goals allowed by an opponent.

As mentioned, Hamers led all-scorers with 26 points with five, 3-pointers and going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) added 12 points and #Derek Anderson# (Jr.-Cook, Minn.) had a team-high six rebounds.

The Saints will face Luther College (Iowa) tomorrow evening at 5:30 p.m. in the Strode Center.