The College of St. Scholastica

Notables
-5-game win streak longest since the 2011-12 season
-Naslund scored a team-high 14 points.
-Laughlin was big in the first half with 10 points and seven rebounds.
-CSS scored 40 points in the paint and received 31 points from its bench
-Free Throws: CSS 16-of-23, Finlandia 6-of-9

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DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica men's basketball team won a close one Saturday, defeating Finlandia University (Mich.) 68-66 at Reif Gym to extend its winning streak to five.
 
The Action
Both teams were clicking early and kept the game close through most of the first half until the Saints closed the half with a 15-3 run, including scoring the final 10 points of the period to take a 37-23 halftime lead. 
 
First Half Performers
Leading the way in the first were Andrew Laughlin (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS) with 10 points, shooting five of six from the field and grabbing seven rebounds, as well as Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) who put up nine points, two assists, one block and one steal.
 
Things Get Interesting
Finlandia went on to make the game interesting late, outscoring St. Scholastica by 12 points in the period. The Lions kept within in striking distance for much of the second half and made their run in the fianl three minutes as Jake Naslund (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS)'s jumper with 2:35 remaining was CSS' final field goal of the game. Finlandia scored seven unanswered points and were knocking on the door thanks to a 3-pointer by Lane Otis with just over a minute to play.
 
Following a St. Scholastica timeout, the Saints would get a pair of key offensive rebounds, which eventually led to Naslund making 1-of-2 from the foul line to extend the lead to 68-66. Finlandia would get a chance to tie the game on the ensuing possession, but the jump shot would be off as the Saints escaped 68-66.
 
Top CSS Performers
Naslund scored a team-high 14 points hitting 5-of-11 field goals. Laughlin and Julius Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) were huge on the boards for the Saints, grabbing 19 rebounds between the two, 10 for Laughlin, which played a big role late in the game. Joe Stark (Hayward, Wis./Hayward HS) added 10 points off the bench.

Top Finlandia Performers
Terrance Fuller, who missed the game-tying shot, led the Lions with 18 points. Marcus Geralds recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Robinette had 14 points and Jordan LaPlant chipped in 10 points.
 
Team Overview
As a team St. Scholastica shot 39.3 percent from the field and 17.4 percent from three. Although shooting 83 percent from the free throw line in the first period the team ended with 69.6 percent from the stripe after going 6-for-11 in the second half.
 
The Saints also dominated in the paint scoring 40 of their 68 points inside. Players coming off the bench racked up 31 points on the night.
 
Up Next
St. Scholastica (6-2) will host Crossroads College Tuesday at Reif Gym in Duluth. The action is set to take place at 7 p.m.