Notables
-Winesett leads CSS with 20 points, grabs six rebounds
-Washington scores season-high 16 points in just 13 minutes off the bench
-Nelson records 12 points, grabs four rebounds and dishes four assists
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted the Auggies from Augsburg this evening in the season's conference opener. The Saints took a 14-point lead into the half, but the Auggies proved its resilience, outscoring the Saints by 18 in the second half, to defeat CSS this evening by a score of 77-73.
How it Happened
The Saints offense got started early, as Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) scored a layup on the opening possession, followed up with a three-pointer of his own and a layup from Aaron Keykal (Princeton, Minn./Princeton HS) gave CSS a 7-4 lead.
St. Scholastica's next two field goals would come from beyond-the-arc, as Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) and Koy Nelson (Port Wing, Wis./South Shore HS) helped keep CSS in front, leading 15-8.
Winesett cashed in his second three-pointer on the ensuing possession, and moments later, Moe Washington (Silver Spring, Md./Hibbing Community College) got his first points of the night on a strong finish at the rim.
After Keykal and Washington both scored on layups, as both came off assists from Nelson, Nelson would score a basket of his own, making the score 26-12 in favor of CSS.
Winesett scored the next three field goals for the Saints, pushing its lead to 33-14 in the back end of the first half.
The Saints ended the first half in style, as Washington finished off a steal on one end with a slam dunk on the other, and on the Saints' next possession, Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College)) got his first points of the game with a three-pointer. The three gave CSS a 42-28 lead into halftime.
After the Auggies went on a 6-0 run to open the second half, Luke Raymond (Hudson, Wis./Concordia Academy (UW-River Falls)) got his first basket to fall on a layup, which would be followed up with a jumper from Winesett and a pair of three-pointers from Crocket Jr., pushing the Saints' lead back up to 15.
However, before the Saints would score its next field goal, the Auggies chipped away at its deficit, and a layup from Keykal would give CSS a four-point lead.
Washington made his impact be felt moments later, scoring on back-to-back drives, highlighted by a slam dunk, as CSS now led 59-53.
The Auggies claimed its first lead of the night minutes later, and CSS responded with a three-pointer and another jumper from Nelson gave itself a one-point lead.
In the closing minutes, however, Augsburg separated itself from the Saints, as they were able to come away with a 77-73 victory over the Saints this evening.
Up Next
The Saints (1-3, 0-1) will be back in action on Saturday, where they will host Macalester in the Holiday for Heroes game. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
