Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team held the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings without a field goal in the final 2:40 of tonight's game to go on to win 68-58 at Reif Gym.

The Saints have won eight straight games, which is the second-longest win streak in program history. The record is 10 that occurred during the 1997-98 season. CSS did set a record tonight with their eighth consecutive home win of the season. The Saints have a record of 14-10 overall and 10-3 in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The Vikings fall to 11-13 overall and 5-8 in the conference.

The Saints jumped out to a 9-2 lead, but the Vikings then caught fire from beyond the arc, connecting on three, 3-pointers to take a 15-9 lead. CSS responded by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 15-15. It stayed close for the majority of the first half. The Vikings had a six-point lead with two minutes remaining in the half, but CSS cut the lead to one a #Danny Schmitz# (So.-Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson) layup in the waning seconds of the first half as the score at the break was 35-34 Bethany Lutheran.

The Saints shot 43-percent in the first half, while the Vikings were 54-percent from the field.

The lead would change hands seven times in the second half. Neither team had a lead bigger than four for the first 17 minutes. #Bryan Johnson# (Fr.-Randolph, Wis.) hit a lay-up with 5:22 left in the game, which would give the Saints the lead for good.

After the Vikings cut the lead to one with 2:40 to play, the Saints would hit six straight free throws to take a seven point lead. #Max Dibrell# (Jr.-Duluth, Minn./East) was 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final 1:31, while Bethany Lutheran would not score again for the rest of the game as the Saints prevailed 68-58.

CSS shot 40-percent for the game, while the Vikings shot 43-percent. The Saints were 22-for-28 from the charity stripe and had the rebounding edge 37-32.

Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) had 14 points to lead the Saints' scoring attack. #Jesse Taylor# (Sr.-Superior, Wis./Maranatha Academy) added 13 points and #Chris Hamers# (So.-Onamia, Minn.) had 11 points off the bench, including three, 3-pointers. #Troy Miller# (Sr.-Stillwater, Minn.) had a team-high 11 rebounds. Andy Wills had a team-high 20 points to lead the Vikings.

The Saints will host Martin Luther College tomorrow on Senior Day and the regular season finale. If the Saints win they will be co-regular season champions and will be the No. 1-seed in the UMAC Postseason Tournament. The tip-off is scheduled for approximately 5 p.m., following the women's game.