Notables-CSS never trailed in the game-Largest margin of victory over a MIAC school since 2005-06 season.-Saints shot 57 percent in the first half-Saints went on a 20-2 run in the second half
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – Five different players scored in double-figures as the St. Scholastica men's basketball team defeated Saint Mary's University 85-68 on Sunday to win its home opener at the Reif Gymnasium.
First HalfThe first four minutes went back-and-forth until the Saints went on a 13-3 run, which featured back-to-back 3-pointers by
Zach Dahlman (Braham, Minn./Braham HS) and
Jake Naslund (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS).
The margin was down to seven with less three minutes left in the half, but
Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) and Naslund combined to score seven straight points to make it 44-30. A Saint Mary's 3-pointer made the halftime score 44-33.
Naslund (13) and Newman (12) combined to score 25 of the team's 44 points in the half. CSS was 7-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of play with Naslund connecting on three of those.
Second HalfSaint Mary's would only get as close as nine in the second half as the Saints went on a 20-2 run over the span of seven minutes in the second half. The lead grew to as much as 28 with CSS eventually prevailing 85-68.
Top Performances for CSSNewman led all scorers with 18 points, while Naslund finished with 16 points. Both Newman and Naslund also led the team with six rebounds each.
Andrew Laughlin (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS) and
Julius Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) chipped in 11 points each and
David Ohnstad (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS) had 10 points off the bench. CSS shot 51 percent for the game, including 57 percent in the first half. The Saints were 16-of-21 from the free throw line.
Top Performances for SMUWylie Ferron had 12 points and six rebounds to lead the Cardinals (2-1). Connor Kaiser added 11 points and Will Swiggum had 10 points. The Cardinals were 42 percent from the floor, including 7-of-29 from beyond the arc.
Up NextThe Saints (2-2) open up Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action on Friday at Martin Luther College. The game is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.
