Notables
-Winesett scores career-high 26 points in victory
-Carlson adds 24 points while also recording five rebounds
-Thomas notches double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds
DULUTH, Minn.
(csssaints.com) – In its home-opener this evening, the St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted its old UMAC rivals, the Eagles from Northwestern-St. Paul. The Saints held a nine-point lead through the first half, and although the Eagles made a late push, CSS was able to fend them off, defeating Northwestern this evening by a score of 70-62.
How it Happened
The Saints got off to a fast start in tonight's action, headlined by an early bucket from
Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS), followed by a
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) three-pointer, and a layup and three-pointer of his own by
Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS), giving the Saints an early 10-4 lead.
The Eagles tied the game up at 13-13 after going on a run of its own. Winesett then made a key layup, converting an and-one, to give CSS its lead back.
Northwestern then took a four-point lead over St. Scholastica and
Keyon Menier-Broussard (Roseville, MN/Roseville Area High School) scored his first collegiate basket. Carlson then added his second three-pointer of the half to tie the game at 24-24.
With roughly four minutes to play in the half, Winesett and Carlson delivered, scoring on back-to-back possessions to extended CSS' lead up to eight.
In one of the more beautiful plays of the half, Menier-Broussard found
Luke Raymond (Hudson, Wis./Concordia Academy (UW-River Falls)) on a well-timed pass for a dunk, as CSS took a nine-point lead into halftime, leading 36-27.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Thomas added an layup following an offensive rebound, helping the Saints maintain a seven-point cushion over the Eagles.
Following a pair of layups by Winesett,
Matho Ojullu (Lakeville, MN/Lakeville North High School (Dakota County Technical College)) may have made the play of the night, scoring on a powerful dunk over an Eagles player that made the gym roar, as CSS maintained its small lead over the Eagles.
Northwestern took its first lead of the second half around the halfway mark, taking a three-point lead over CSS.
Thomas and Carlson both made a statement, as Thomas converted a three-point shot, and Carlson cashed in on a pair of layups to reclaim the lead as CSS led by a score of 55-53.
With two minutes left and the Saints lead only being two points, Winesett hit a key three-pointer to give the Saints a five-point lead and momentum of the game.
After the Eagles could not convert on the offensive side of the ball, forcing them to foul, Carlson and Winesett iced the game at the free-throw line, as CSS defeated the Eagles by a score of 70-62.
Top Performers
Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) led all players tonight in scoring, as the junior made his first start of the young season, notching 26 points to go along with three rebounds in tonight's contest.
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) added 24 points of his own tonight, shooting four of seven from beyond the arc in tonight's victory.
Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) led the Saints on the glass tonight, recording 11 rebounds while also adding 11 points.
Up Next
The Saints (1-1, 0-0 MIAC) will be back in action next on Saturday, where they will host the Cobbers from Concordia-Moorhead in its first conference game this season at Reif Gymnasium. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
