Notables
-Four CSS players in double figures for scoring
-Keykal records eight points to go along with eight rebounds
-Ojullu comes away with three blocks
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted the Lumberjacks from Northland College tonight in its season opener. After the Saints offense came to life in the first half, taking a 10-point lead into halftime, CSS was able to hold off a Lumberjacks comeback attempt that fell just short, en route to an 84-74 season opening victory.
How it Happened
The Lumberjacks offense got started early, but layups from Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and Aaron Keykal (Princeton, Minn./Princeton HS), to keep the Saints within reach.
Jeff Moore (Richfield, Minn./Richfield HS) scored his first points of the season on a three-pointer, which was followed by a layup by Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater HS), to make the score 12-11 in favor of Northland.
Koy Nelson (Port Wing, Wis./South Shore HS) made his presence felt on the ensuing Saints possessions, getting a pair of jumpers to fall, including a three-pointer, to give CSS a 16-15 lead.
Nelson and Moe Washington's (Silver Spring, Md./Hibbing Community College) layups helped CSS keep its lead, and Matho Ojullu's (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS (Dakota County Technical College)) first points of the season helped CSS lead grow to 24-18.
Moments later, it was once again Nelson and Washington showing up for the Saints, with Nelson scoring two more layups and Washington adding another.
Later in the half, three-pointers by Washington and Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) extended CSS' lead to double-digits, leading 37-24.
Thomas was able to score the final points of the half, scoring on a layup that was assisted by Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College)), to give the Saints a ten-point lead heading into halftime.
After opening baskets by the Lumberjacks, Thomas and Crockett Jr. responded with layups of their own to push the lead back up to 10 points.
Thomas converted his second three-pointer moments later, which would be followed up with Keykal, Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS), and Crockett Jr. all getting layups to fall.
Crockett Jr. made a nice play close to the halfway mark of the second half, converting an and-one on a beautiful setup pass from Thomas, to extend the Saints lead to 17 points.
Ojullu converted an and-one of his own to push the lead up to 60-42, followed by a jumper from Thomson, as the Saints lead continued.
The Lumberjacks began to cut into CSS' lead with about five minutes left to play, as the Saints' once big lead was down to six points.
Despite the pushback from Northland, Moore stepped up for CSS, knocking down a layup, and as the Lumberjacks began to foul, Winesett and Washington closed out the game for St. Scholastica, defeating Northland by a score of 84-74.
Hitting the Road
The Saints (1-0, 0-0) will be back in action on Saturday, where they will travel to Roseville to take on Northwestern. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
