Box Score Box Score
MANKATO, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team came up short late against Bethany Lutheran College, losing 79-65 on Saturday night.
The game swung back-and-forth in the first half, with three different lead changes, and five tied scores. The Vikings (11-12, 8-4 UMAC) had the lead for the vast majority of the first half, yet still couldn't run away from the Saints (9-15, 6-6 UMAC). With 2:44 remaining in the first half the Vikings just completed a 10-4 run to push their lead to 34-28, yet the Saints answered right back with five straight points to cut the Vikings lead to 34-33 going into the locker rooms.
Bethany would shoot 54-percent from the field, while CSS shot 48-percent. Alex Weldon of the Vikings would have a game-high nine points in the first 20 minutes of play, and #Brett Tester# led the Saints with eight points. In the first half there were 34 combined points scored in the paint.
The second half looked almost identical of the first half, with the game swinging back-and-forth. There would be 10 lead changes, and seven tied scores in the second half. With 5:52 remaining in the game and with a score of 61-60 Bethany, #Danny Schmitz# went to the line for the Saints; Schmitz would make both free throw attempts to give the Saints a 62-61 lead.
However, the Saints wouldn't make a basket for the rest of the game, except a late desperation 3-pointer by #Nick Biedakiewicz#. The Vikings would end the game on an 18-3 run, en route to a 79-65 win.
The Saints would finish the night 45-percent from the field, while the Vikings shot 56-percent. CSS rebounded tonight from the charity line by shooting 83-percent, unlike last night's 55-percent. The Vikings got a boost from their bench, with 26 points, while the Saints got 12.
The Vikings' Derek Peterson would have a game-high 17 points and six assists. The Saints would have three players in double figures, which made it three straight games with at least three players having scored over 10 points.
The Saints will host the final two games of the regular season next weekend when they face the University of Minnesota-Morris on Friday night and Presentation College on Saturday afternoon. CSS is currently tied with Martin Luther for the final postseason tournament spot. The Saints will more than likely need to win out because the Knights currently have the tiebreaker-edge. The action tips off Friday at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen live, courtesy of the iFan Sports Network, at csssaints.com.
