Notables 
-UMAC opener for both teams
-CSS attempted 37 free throws, while MLC attempted 17.
-CSS committed 20 turnovers in the victory.
-Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) recorded a game high 12 rebounds with six on the offensive end

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NEW ULM, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team defeated the Knights of Martin Luther College by a score of 85-77 Friday night behind a balanced attack where five Saints players recorded 10 or more points.
 
First Half
Martin Luther began the game by going on an 11-5 run, but that lead was quickly erased by the Saints as they embarked on a 10-4 run of their own to set the score at 15-13 with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half.
 
The two teams would go on to play relatively even basketball for the next six minutes until Nate Weets (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS) gave CSS its first lead of the game since they led 2-0 early at 29-27 with 6:14 left in the half.  This lead was gained as a part of a massive 14-0 run that spanned just four minutes. By the time the run was over, CSS led 34-27 with 4:41 to go in the first half.
 
In the last four minutes of the half CSS led by as much as 11 points, and as the halftime buzzer sounded the Saints found themselves up by a score of 44-34.
 
Second Half
The second half of the game began with a large 17-6 Martin Luther run that spanned the first 6:22 of the half, and with 13:13 left in the game Martin Luther led by one point at 51-50.
 
CSS would quickly regain the led less than a minute later when David Ohnstad (Grantsburg, Wis./Grantsburg HS) made a layup with an assist by Julius Johnson (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) that set the score at 53-51 Saints with 12:15 to go in the game.
 
CSS would attempt to maintain their newfound lead for the rest of the game, with Martin Luther staying close for most of the second half. They never were able to get over the hump, however, as CSS staved off a late run by the Knights and then iced the game with free throws en route to an 85-77 with in the UMAC regular season opener.
 
Top CSS Performers
Andrew Laughlin (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Central HS), Beau Howard (Brainerd, Minn./Pine River-Backus HS (Hibbing CC)), Marc Peterson (Esko, Minn./Esko HS), Joe Stark (Hayward, Wis./Hayward HS), and Johnson all scored in double digit points for the Saints, while the starting five scored 52 points on the night. Laughlin led the way with 15 points, while Howard added 13 points, 11 of which coming the first half. The Saints bench out-scored the Martin Luther bench 33-8. CSS also had an advantage in the paint 36-20.

Top MLC Performers
Four players scored in double-figures led by Todd Brassow who poured in 20 points. Michael Paulson and T.J. Babinec each had 16 points and Josh Rathje chipped in 15 points and seven assists. The Knights were 9-of-17 from the free throw line.
 
Up Next
St. Scholastica (3-2, 1-0 UMAC) will next be in action tomorrow when it travels to Mankato, Minnesota to play Bethany Lutheran College with that game set to tip off at 3 p.m.