Notables
-Anderson knocks down three, 3-pointers in final seven minutes, including game-winner
-Only five Saints score in the win
-Bench Points, CSS-32, Crown-3
-Second-Chance Points: CSS-16, Crown-9
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team welcomed Crown College to The Reif for an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament first round matchup Monday. Both teams would make timely runs throughout the game with the Saints finding clutch shots at the end to survive an exciting start to the conference playoffs, winning 75-71.
How It Happened
The Storm (10-16) the game off with the first points on the night before
Jack Silgen (Crosby, Minn./Crosby-Ironton HS (St. Thomas)) would hit a three for the Saints to gain an early 3-2 lead. Crown regained the lead and extend it to 7-3, two minutes into the half. Both teams battled for possessions and buckets with Crown only being able to grow their lead up to four points before back-to-back threes by
Jarod Wilken (Annandale, Minn./Annandale HS) and
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) gave the Saints a 21-19 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half. The Saints would go on an 8-2 run in the next two minutes to extend their lead to 29-23. St. Scholastica's lead grew to six points with three minutes left in the half before Crown would bring the game within two points on two different occasions with the Saints holding a 38-34 lead heading into halftime.
The start of the second half began with neither team making ground on the scoreboard with the Saints holding a three to five-point lead for the first five minutes of the half. Crown then went on a 14-2 run in the next three minutes to gain a healthy 56-47 lead over the Saints with 11 minutes remaining.
The Storm led 64-59 with less than seven minutes remaining before CSS went on a 12-0 run with
Collin Anderson (Eagan, Minn./Eagan HS) and Carlson combining for all 12 of the points. However, the Saints saw their seven-point lead erased with seven straight points by the Storm in the next minute and a half to tie the game 71-71.
Neither team would score for the next minute and a half before Anderson would hit a clutch three pointer with 35 seconds left to go up 74-71. Stout defensive possessions and a free throw by Silgen would finalize the Saints ticket to the UMAC Semifinals, winning 75-71.
Top Performers
All five of the Saints scorers were in double figures with Anderson and Carlson leading the way with 18 points. Silgen brought down a 12-point, 11 rebound double-double in the win.
Quinn Fischer (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) added 12 points and Wilken 14 off the bench. Anderson and
Craig Burger (Hayward, Wis./Hayward HS) recorded four assists apiece on the night.
Up Next
The Saints (14-12) will continue their season as they travel to the University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Wednesday evening for a UMAC semifinal matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
