Notables
-Carlson leads all scorers players with 22 points
-Hendrickson records three steals and two blocks
-Saints hit 12 three-pointers in victory
DULUTH, Minn.
(csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted the Royals from Bethel University this evening in a MIAC Conference Matchup. The Saints took an early lead, holding a six-point lead going into the second half, and survived a late push from the Royals to take tonight's matchup by a score of 67-61.
How it Happened
The Saints' offense got a fast start in tonight's game, as
Luke Raymond (Hudson, Wis./Concordia Academy (UW-River Falls)) and
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) got on the board first, Raymond with a layup, and Carlson a three-pointer.
A few possessions later, the Saints got a pair of three-pointers to fall on back-to-back possessions, as
Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) hit his first of the game, and Carlson got his second three to fall.
Halfway through the first half,
Matho Ojullu (Lakeville, MN/Lakeville North High School (Dakota County Technical College)) got a layup to fall on the fastbreak, that gave the Saints a 15-point lead.
The Royals responded, as the Saints went cold for the next six minutes, and ended up tying the game with three minutes to play in the first half.
Following the Royals' big run, Carlson and
Cade Goggleye (Nett Lake, Minn./North Woods HS) both got some key layups to fall to give the Saints its lead back.
In the last minute of the half, Carlson hit another three-pointer to give the Saints a six-point lead heading into the second half.
Just like the first half, the Saints offense got going quick, as Raymond hit a opening layup, followed by Goggleye's second three-pointer of the game.
A few minutes later, Carlson got yet another three-pointer to fall, and
Isiah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) converted a layup to give CSS an nine-point lead.
The Saints led by only one point before
Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) got on the board with a three-pointer to give the Saints a two-possession lead.
After Bethel briefly took its first lead of the game, Carlson and
Jeff Moore (Richfield, Minn./Richfield HS) both hit shots from beyond-the-arc to reclaim the lead over the Royals.
With five minutes left to play, Hendrickson converted a huge and-one that got the gym roaring and CSS the lead as well.
In the following minutes, Winesett hit two more three-pointers to held give the Saints a little cushion to work with, as the Royals were not going down quietly.
With just a minute to play Hendrickson found Carlson for the dagger, converting a three-pointer that gave CSS a two-possession game.
Following late game fouls by the Royals, Moore went to the free throw line and put the Royals to sleep tonight, as CSS took tonight's game by a score of 67-61.
Top Performers
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) was the catalyst for the offense tonight, finishing with 22 points to go along with six three's.
Isiah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) played a huge role on the defensive side of the ball tonight, recording three steals, two blocks, and tying for the lead in rebounds with six tonight.
Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) also played an all-around game tonight, recording nine points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.
Up Next
The Saints (3-4, 2-2 MIAC) will be back in action on Saturday, where they will travel to Northfield to take on the Knights from Carleton. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
