Notables
-Third time these teams have gone to OT since 2008 and the first CSS loss in the span
-Points in the Paint: UWRF-50, CSS-38
-Bench Points: UWRF-23, CSS-8
-Blocks: UWRF-9, CSS-1
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team rallied from an 11-point second half deficit to force overtime in its season opener Wednesday night at the Reif Gymnasium, but the University of Wisconsin-River Falls outlasted the Saints in OT to win 77-76.
How It Happened
The Saints jumped out to a 7-2 lead and led 12-9 later in the first half, until the Falcons (2-1) went on a 13-3 run to take a 22-14 lead. CSS later responded with a 10-0 with three consecutive 3-point field goals to regain the lead at 26-25. However, the Saints went scoreless the final four minutes of the first half as River Falls scored the final six points of the half to take a 31-26 lead into halftime.
Jack Silgen (Deerwood, Minn./Crosby-Ironton HS (St. Thomas)) had 10 points for the Saints in the first 20 minutes of play, however, the Saints shot just 31% from the floor.
The Falcons would score the first six points of the second half to complete a 12-0 run and led by 11 two minutes into the half. CSS trailed by nine with 12 minutes to go when it went on a 9-0 run to tie the contest at 49-49.
However, River Falls maintained a slight edge over the Saints until the final 25 seconds when
Isiah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) tied the contest at 64-64 with a pair of free throws. The Falcons would get one final look at the end of regulation, but the made offensive rebound would be after the buzzer and the contest went to overtime.
A Silgen layup to open overtime gave the Saints their first lead since the four-minute-mark of the first half. After a Falcons bucket,
Quinn Fischer (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) had a three-point-play. However, the Falcons answered with a 3-pointer to tie it again. River Falls answered the Saints in the first three minutes of overtime and then following 1-of-2 free throws by CSS, the Falcons took the lead with a layup and led by three with 40 seconds remaining.
After the teams exchanged free throws,
Connor Bich (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown HS (Dakota Wesleyan)) would be fouled attempting a game-tying 3-pointer in the waning moments. He made the first, missed the second and made the third. A CSS foul on the inbound would come too late as the Falcons hung on for the 77-76 victory.
Top Performers
Silgen finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Fischer added 15 points and nine rebounds to go with six assists.
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) had 12 points and Bich 11 points.
Noah Hanson had 23 points for the Falcons to lead all scorers.
Up Next
The Saints will be at former conference foe University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.
