Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team won its 10th straight game and defeated the University of Minnesota-Morris by a score of 74-66 tonight in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament semifinal game at Reif Gym.

The Saints move on to face the winner of the Bethany Lutheran/Martin Luther semifinal that was postponed until tomorrow. The UMAC Championship game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Reif Gym.

CSS shot the lights out in the first half, jumping out to a 30-6 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. The Saints connected on five, 3-pointers and #Troy Miller# (Sr.-Stillwater, Minn.) had 12 points, including three, 3-pointers during that span. The margin reached 25 after a #Danny Schmitz# (So.-Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson) lay-up with five minutes left in the first half. CSS went into the locker room with a 43-22 lead.

St. Scholastica shot 47-percent in the half and was 6-for-11 on 3-point attempts. The Saints were also doing it on the defensive end, forcing 10 Minnesota-Morris turnovers, which led to 19 points. Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) had 13 points to lead CSS in the half. The Cougars shot 44-percent from the field, but were 0-for-9 on 3-point attempts.

The Saints kept it going for the first part of the second half, extending the lead to 28 with 10 minutes remaining. However, Morris did not give and went on a 14-0 run to cut the score to 62-48 with 4:33 left. The Cougars got the lead down to eight and had a chance to drop it down to six with over a minute to go, but could not capitalize on a lay-up. CSS then went 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the final minute to prevail by a score of 74-66. The 10th straight victory ties a program record that was set during the 1997-98 season.

The Saints finished with a 42-percent field goal percentage for the game. The Cougars shot 50-percent from the field in the second half to finish at 48-percent for the game. The Saints, who are ranked eighth in NCAA Division III in free throw percentage, were 20-for-22 from the charity stripe.

Troy Miller (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS) had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the game. Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) also added 17 points. #Jesse Taylor# (Sr.-Superior, Wis./Maranatha Academy) chipped in 13 points and #Kyle Allen# (Sr.-Black River Falls, Wis.) had 10 points. Daniel Fragodt had 28 points to lead the Cougars.

The Saints will go for their fourth UMAC Tournament Championship and their third in four years on Saturday night against either Martin Luther College or Bethany Lutheran College. The tip-off will be at 7:30 p.m. in Reif Gym. Ticket prices will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. The first 100 students will get in free. Children under 12 years of age are free.