Notables
-Carlson goes over 800 career points with a season-high 23 points
-Game featured 20 lead changes and 11 ties
-CSS led by 18 with 8:13 remaining
-Second-Chance Points: CSS-12, BU-5
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) –
Nick Carlson's (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) layup with over a minute remaining in overtime was the game-winner as the St. Scholastica men's basketball survived a flurry of second-chance attempts by Bethel University in the final seconds to win its first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) game in program history Monday night 74-73 at the Reif Gymnasium.
How It Happened
The Royals (7-4, 4-4 MIAC) led 21-16 eight minutes into the first half as the opening eight minutes featured three ties and five lead changes. The Saints then went on an 8-0 run with a
Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and-one capping the run as the Saints led 24-21. After Bethel tied it again at 24-24, St. Scholastica went on a 10-0 run capped off by a pair of
Connor Bich (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown HS (Dakota Wesleyan)) 3-pointers to make it 34-24 with 2:30 left in the first half. The Saints went into halftime with the lead for the third straight game by a score of 36-26.
A
Cade Goggleye (Nett Lake, Minn./North Woods HS) 3-pointer gave the Saints a 12-point lead early in the second half. The Royals cut it to seven on a few occasions until the Saints went on a 14-4 run and a Winesett 3-pointer made it 59-41 with 8:28 remaining. However, CSS then went on a dry spell not scoring over the next 4:30 as Bethel went on a 17-0 run to make it a 59-58 game with 3:46 remaining.
Jack Silgen (Deerwood, Minn./Crosby-Ironton HS (St. Thomas)) stopped the bleeding temporarily, until the Royals scored the next five points to take their first lead since the 10-minute mark of the first half at 63-61 with a minute remaining. Both teams failed to convert on their next possessions giving the Saints the last shot down two and Carlson pulled up and drilled a jumper with less than five seconds remaining to tie the contest and send the game to overtime tied at 63-63.
After both teams traded buckets early on in overtime, Silgen got a shooter's bounce on a 3-pointer to give CSS a 68-67 lead. The Royals would not make a field goal the final 3:30 of the game, but would go 6-for-7 at the free throw line. With the score tied at 72-72, Carlson drove to the hoop and converted a layup to make it 74-72 with over a minute remaining.
On the ensuing possession, the Royals missed three open looks from beyond the arc after a pair of offensive rebounds. However, CSS then missed two free throws on the other end giving Bethel the final chance to tie or win it. We mentioned that the Royals were 6-for-7 from the foul line in the final 3:30, well Bethel went to the line with 10 seconds remaining and made the first, but missed the second after a CSS timeout. The Royals got the offensive rebound and missed a pair of put backs, but got a third offensive rebound and missed a 3-pointer as time expired as the Saints survived for the 74-73 overtime victory.
Top Performers
Carlson had a game-high and season-high 23 points to lead the Saints. He also led the team with eight rebounds. Silgen added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Winesett scored 11 points and Bich finished with 10 points.
Myles Coleman had 21 points to lead the Royals.
Up Next
It will be another 48-hour turnaround for the Saints (2-10, 1-7 MIAC) who travel to St. Olaf College on Wednesday. Action is slated to begin at 7 p.m.
