Box Score Box Score
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team shot 63-percent in the second half to rally past Finlandia University (Mich.) tonight 88-82 at Reif gym.
The Saints improve to 5-10 overall, while the Lions drop to 5-9. CSS is 6-1 all-time at home against the Lions. The Saints have won four of their last five games, including three straight.
Finlandia led almost the entire first half after going on a 12-3 run with seven minutes to go. Later in the half, the Saints went on a 9-2 run to cut the Finlandia lead to one. The Lions went into the locker room with a 40-37 lead.
The Saints shot 47-percent in the first half, while the Lions shot 55-percent. CSS made five, 3-pointers and the Lions made four. The Lions had a 22-14 rebounding edge and out-scored the Saints 11-2.
CSS tied the game up at 45-45 moments into the second half. However, the Lions lengthened their lead to seven on three different occasions with the latest being with 13 minutes to go. The Saints battled back and took the lead for the first time since the 10:10-mark of the first half when #Danny Schmitz# (
Jr.-Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson) hit a lay-up with seven minutes to go to make it 68-67.
Finlandia regained the lead following a 3-pointer with 4:31 remaining to make the score 72-71. CSS responded with a 6-0 run thanks to a 3-point play by #Max Dibrell# (
Sr.-Duluth, Minn./East) and a 3-pointer by
Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS). #Brett Tester# (
Fr.-Andover, Minn.) then made two critical lay-ups and the Saints made enough free throws at the end to outlast the Lions 88-82. The 88 points were the most scored this season by the Saints.
St. Scholastica shot 54-percent from the field and made eight, 3-pointers. The Lions also shot 54-percent and made seven, 3-pointers. The Saints made 17 more free throws than their counterpart that only attempted four free throws. Finlandia out-rebounded the Saints 36-29 and had 22 second-chance points. CSS took care of the ball, committing a season-low four turnovers.
Danny Schmitz (Hinckley, Minn./Hinckley-Finlayson HS) led the way for CSS with 28 points, while
Brett Tester (Andover, Minn./Andover HS) added a career-high 22 points. #Chris Hamers# (
Jr.-Onamia, Minn.) scored 14 points and #Derek Anderson# (
Jr.-Cook, Minn.) had 10 points, both off the bench. #Logan Schultz# (
Jr.-:Perham, Minn.) had a team-high six rebounds. Tyler Gordon scored 25 points to lead Finlandia.
The Saints will be back in conference action on Saturday when they go east on Highway 2 and face Northland College. The tip-off is scheduled for approximately 5 p.m. following the women's game.
