Notables
-Winesett records 19 points, as well as four three-pointers
-Carlson leads all players with 12 rebounds
-Lead changed eight times in game
DULUTH, Minn.
(csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted the Cardinals from Saint Mary's this afternoon in a conference matchup. The Saints took a six-point lead into halftime, but the Cardinals would not go down without a fight, as they walked away with the victory over CSS by a score of 58-57.
First Half
The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead in this one, leading 10-0, before
Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) was able to get the offense going for the Saints with a layup.
The Saints' offense was able to get itself back in the game, headlined by three-pointers by
Nick Carlson (Canyon, Minn./South Ridge HS) and
Connor Bich (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown HS (Dakota Wesleyan)), CSS trimmed the Cardinals' lead, trailing 11-8.
Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) gave CSS its first lead of the afternoon, hitting a three-pointer and also converting a layup, to give CSS a five-point lead with a 16-11 lead.
After a few minutes with either team being able to find the bottom of the net, Carlson delivered with a dunk of his own, extending CSS lead to 18-13.
The Cardinals responded and cut the Saints' lead to just one, but
Isiah Hendrickson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and
Matho Ojullu (Lakeville, MN/Lakeville North High School (Dakota County Technical College)) both scored with layups, to give CSS a five-point lead.
Leading by four points, Hendrickson and
Yohanes Addiss Gebeyehu (Shoreview, Minn./Roseville HS) helped extend CSS' lead, making it 29-20 in the closing stages of the first half.
CSS took a 29-23 lead over the Cardinals heading into the second half.
Second Half
Winesett and Thomas opened up the scoring for the Saints in the second half, as layups from both of them gave CSS a double-digit lead, by score of 33-23.
CSS was able to maintain its lead, headlined with a pair of three-pointers by Winesett.
Luke Raymond (Hudson, Wis./Concordia Academy (UW-River Falls)) scored his first points of the game with a dunk, making it 41-34 in favor of CSS.
A layup by Bich at the 12-minute mark in the half helped CSS maintain its seven-point lead, but Saint Mary's responded, going on a quick 6-0 run to trim its deficit to just one.
The Cardinals reclaimed the lead just a few minutes later, but the Saints were helped by Winesett and Hendrickson, who helped reclaim the lead, by a score of 52-51.
The game found itself tied at 56-56 with just two minutes to play. Carlson delivered with a clutch free-throw to give the Saints a one-point lead.
Saint Mary's drew a foul with a minute to play and nailed both free throws, leading 58-57, and the Saints were unable to find the bottom of the net and fell in today's matchup by a score of 58-57.
Up Next
The Saints (3-11, 2-7 MIAC) will hit the floor once again on Monday, where they will take on the Oles from St. Olaf in a home matchup at Reif Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
