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DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team opens up its 2012-13 campaign Friday night in St. Paul when it faces the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the Perkins Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by Bethel University.
Tournament Schedule:
Friday
6 p.m. – St. Scholastica vs. UW-Stout
8 p.m. – Bethel vs. Simpson (Iowa)
Saturday
6 p.m. – Losers of Friday games
8 p.m. – Winners of Friday games
Game Day Media
Tournament Web site | Live Video
About the Saints
2011-12 Record: 13-13, 10-4 UMAC
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After finishing 9-16 in the 2010-11 and missing the UMAC Tournament for the first time in program history, the Saints bounced back by 13-13 last season before falling to Northwestern College in the UMAC Tournament semifinals.
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The Saints have picked to finish third in the conference this season, according to the preseason coaches' poll.
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CSS welcomes back two-time UMAC First team all-conference selection in senior forward Brett Tester (Andover, Minn./Andover HS).
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Tester led the squad in scoring in 15 of the 26 games last season, averaging 17 points per game.
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During the year, Tester became the 10th Saint to record 1,000 career points. He ended the season with 1,159 points, which is currently eighth all-time.
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Also back is senior guard Jonah Dahlman (Braham, Minn./Braham HS). Dahlman earned second team All-UMAC accolades a season ago.
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Dahlman led the team with 4.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. His 5.1 assists per game in conference play led the UMAC.
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Other impact players returning for the Saints include freshman forward MarShaan Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis North HS (Minneapolis Comm. & Tech. College)), sophomore twins Alec Mortel (Luck, Wis./Luck HS) and Cole Mortel (Luck, Wis./Luck HS), along with sophomore guard Derek Steve (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Apollo HS).
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Head coach David Staniger also brought in a solid recruiting class led by Grand Rapids forward Mike Spoden (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS). Spoden played on three state tournament teams for the Thunderhawks.
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Other freshmen looking to make an impact this season will be forward Scottie Rucks (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS), and guards Andrew Laughlin (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS) and Tyler Rosenberger (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS).
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CSS also welcomes in transfer guard Steve Golobich (Mountain Iron, Minn./Mountain Iron-Buhl HS (Mesabi Range CC)). Golobich, a junior, played at Mesabi Range Community College for two seasons.
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The Saints will have to replace sharp-shooter Chris Hamers (Onamia, Minn./Onamia HS), who is now an assistant coach on the team. Hamers led the conference with 53 made 3-pointers last season and finished with second-most in program history for his career (201).
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Last season, the Saints outscored teams 814-806 in the first half, but were outscored 1003-979 in the second half.
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CSS was 9-3 at home and just 4-10 away from Duluth.
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The Saints will need to make their free throws at a more consistent rate this season, after shooting just 67 percent a year ago.
About the Blue Devils
2011-12 Record: 9-16, 4-12 WIAC
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The Blue Devils return four starters that played in at least 20 games a season ago.
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Stout ended last season on a three-game winning streak.
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Also back is the top four rebounders from a season ago, which saw Stout lead the WIAC in offensive rebounds and finish second in rebounding margin.
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Senior guard Erik Olson led the conference with a 2.16 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. Olson needs just 43 assists this season to become the program's career leader.
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Also back is leading scorer Alex Oman, who averaged 18.4 points per game, while playing in just 14 games.
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The Saints will see some familiar faces on the side of the Blue Devils. Josh Kosloske, who played in 12 games for the Saints in 2009-10 season, suits up for the Blue Devils. Also former Northland College head coach Rob Robinson is now an assistant on the UW-Stout coaching staff.
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Stout has been picked to finish seventh in the WIAC this season, according to the preseason poll.
Series History: (CSS is 2-10 all-time vs. UW-Stout)
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The Saints and Blue Devils last met in 2005 with Stout coming out on top 85-63
About the Royals
2011-12 Record: 16-11, 11-9 MIAC
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Bethel finished tied for fifth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) last season and advanced to the MIAC Tournament semifinals, before seeing their season come to an end.
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The Royals faced two UMAC schools last season, winning both, including defeating UMAC regular season champion Bethany Lutheran 6-259 in double overtime.
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The Royals return first team All-MIAC forward Taylor Hall, but lose first team senior guard Daniel Baah.
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Hall led the team in scoring in a year ago, averaging 16.2 points per game.
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The Royals led the MIAC in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 40 percent shooting on the year.
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Bethel also led the conference in blocked shots (3.26) and assists (13.96) per game.
Series History: (CSS is 0-1 all-time vs. Bethel)
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The one and only time the Saints have faced the Royals was in 1980 and it was a big Bethel win 123-80.
About the Storm
2011-12 Record: 12-14, 8-8 IIAC
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Simpson finished sixth in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) last season, but advanced to the IIAC Tournament semifinals before falling to eventual champion Buena Vista.
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The Storm led the IIAC in scoring last season, averaging 74.6 points per game. However, they were also at the bottom of the conference, allowing 75.8 points per contest.
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Simpson loses the conference's second-leading scorer Zack Barragan and the conference's leading rebounder Cornelius Mosby.
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Back is senior guard Elijah Knox, who was fourth in the conference, averaging 3.42 assists per game.
Series History: (CSS is 0-1 all-time vs. Simpson)
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The Saints fell to the Storm in the one and only meeting in 1997 by a score of 73-72.
