Notables
-Game featured nine ties and 16 lead changes
-CSS shoots over 50% from the floor (51%) for the second time this year
-Carlson scores in double-figures for the fourth straight game
-Fischer leads all scorers with 23 points
ST. PAUL (
csssaints.com) – It was another men's basketball thriller between St. Scholastica and Bethel University Wednesday night. For the second time against the Royals this season,
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) was the hero with a fadeaway jumper with 0.5 remaining to give the Saints a 69-67 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) victory.
First Meeting Refresher
The Saints defeated the Royals 74-73 in overtime up in Duluth on January 10. In that game Carlson made the game-tying jumper to send the contest into overtime and then his layup in overtime was eventual game-winner to give CSS its first MIAC victory.
How It Happened Tonight
St. Scholastica scored the first seven points of the game with a
Connor Bich (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown HS (Dakota Wesleyan)) 3-pointer making it 7-0. The Royals (9-11, 6-9 MIAC) crawled back in and took their first lead at 15-14 at the midway point of the first half. A
Payton Wefel (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) 3-pointer gave the Saints the lead right back. A
Quinn Fischer (Esko, Minn./Esko HS) 3-pointer made it 32-26 late in the first half. CSS went into halftime with a 36-31 lead. The Saints shot 54% from the floor in the first half.
Bethel came out strong in the second half, scoring the first seven points to take a 38-36 lead. Neither team had a lead greater than four the rest of the game as the half featured 12 lead changes and seven ties.
The Royals went up 67-64 following a layup with 1:20 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Fischer drained a 3-pointerfrom the corner to tie the contest at 67-67. Bethel got an offensive rebound on its next possession and would go to the foul line with less than 30 seconds remaining. The Royals missed both free throws and the Saints grabbed the rebound and had a chance for the final shot,
Following a timeout, Carlson would get the ball on the left wing and get to the left elbow where he buried a fade away jumper with 0.5 seconds remaining to give the Saints the 69-67 victory.
Top Performers
Fischer led all scorers with 23 points, while Carlson finished with 11 points. Both Fischer and Carlson led the team with seven rebounds. Carlson also had a team-high five assists.
Joey Kidder led the Royals with 26 points and 11 rebounds.
Up Next
The Saints (4-18, 2-15 MIAC) will be at Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday with action scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
