Notables
-CSS never led in the contest
-Points in the Paint: MSU-36, CSS-24
-Saints now 0-6 all-time in the Husky Hoopster Classic
ST. CLOUD, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team trailed NAIA's Mayville State University (N.D.) by 23 points at one point in the first half, but cut that deficit down to five before falling 69-60 on Saturday to conclude action at the Husky Hoopster Classic.
Mayville Controls the First Half
The Comets (2-3) jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the opening three minutes of the game. CSS then went nearly nine minutes making just two field goals. During that span, the Comets out-scored the Saints 21-4 to open up a 32-9 advantage.
The Saints got the margin down to 15 by halftime as the score stood at 38-23.
The Comets out-scored the Saints 18-6 in the paint in the opening 20 minutes. St. Scholastica shot only 22 percent from the floor in the half.
CSS Comeback
The margin remained around 15 for the opening seven minutes of the second half. However, the Saints went on a quick 6-0 run and after back-to-back buckets by
Nate Weets (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS), the Comets' lead was down to 50-42 with 12 minutes to go.
A 3-point play by
Jarod Wilken (Annandale, Minn./Annandale HS) made the score 55-49 with less than nine minutes remaining. Two minutes later, Wilken drained a 3-pointer to cut the margin to five. However, each time the Saints got the lead down to five, Mayville State had an answer.
A pair of
Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) free throws made it a five-point game again with less than two minutes to go. CSS then had an opportunity to cut it down to three on the next possession, but could not convert. The Comets went 4-for-4 from the free throw line in the final minute to win 69-60.
Top Performances for CSS
Collin Anderson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) led the Saints with 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Newman scored all 12 of his points in the second half. Wilken scored all 10 of his points in the second half and led the team with seven rebounds off the bench.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Eric Staebler had a game-high 22 points for the Comets. Gorg Alhag added 14 points, including 11 in the second half.
Up Next
The Saints (0-2) will have their home opener on Tuesday when it welcomes the University of St. Thomas to the Reif Gymnasium. The tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
