Notables
-Anderson reaches 900 career points
-The Rams remain winless in conference play
-Wilken records first double-double of the season
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – After trailing at halftime, the St. Scholastica men's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat North Central University (Minn.) 87-73 at the Reif Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
First Half
The teams traded baskets the first five minutes of the game, with the lead changing seven times. But with a string of three, 3-pointers the Saints were able to gain their largest lead of the half, an 8-point advantage over the Rams (4-14, 0-10 UMAC) seven minutes into the half.
But with just under 10 minutes remaining, NCU had tied the game at 22-22, and a pair of free throws gave them a 24-22 lead. CSS made it a one-point game five minutes later after going on a 3-pointer by
Collin Anderson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS). But the Rams were eventually able to pull away from the Saints to earn an 8-point lead with 2:54 left in the half.
In the final minutes of the half, CSS went on a 10-3 run to head into halftime trailing only by a single point, 42-41.
Jarod Wilken (Annandale, Minn./Annandale HS) led the Saints with 16 points in the half, but the Rams were shooting 55 percent from the floor.
Second Half
In the second half, CSS was able to gain a 52-51 lead over NCU after a
Sam Thompson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) 3-pointer. Later in the half with the score at 65-63 in favor of CSS with 10:57 left in the game, CSS went on a 17-4 run to earn a 15-point lead, their largest of the game.
Brandon Newman (Barnum, Minn./Barnum HS) had nine points during that span.
The margin would not change much in the final four minutes as the Saints prevailed 87-73.
Top Performers for the Saints
Newman led the Saints in scoring with a game-high 26 points, including 16 in the second half. Wilken put up a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Anderson finished with 13 points.
Top Performers for the Rams
Four players reached double figures for the Rams, Micah Filer led with 20, Jared High had 17, and A.J. McGrew and Jack Martin each had 13.
Up Next
The Saints (9-9, 6-4 UMAC) head to Morris on Saturday for a conference matchup against the University of Minnesota Morris. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:45 p.m.
