Notables
-Washington leads CSS with 21 points off bench
-Thomson records 10 points in first career start
-Nelson scores 15, goes 5-7 from 3-PT range
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team hosted the Cardinals from Saint Mary's in hope for its first conference victory of the young campaign. Saint Mary's took a nine-point lead into halftime, and riding a hot hand in the second half, was able to pull away from CSS by a score of 92-80.
From the Hardwood
The Cardinals opened up the game on a 13-4 run, with the Saints lone points being scored from Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater HS), who got a pair of layups to fall.
CSS was able to respond with a three-pointer from Noah Winesett (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and a layup by Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College)) to cut into Saint Mary's lead.
The Saints got help later in the half from Matho Ojullu (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS (Dakota County Technical College)), who scored twice on a pair of layups, and Kevin Thomas (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) getting a layup to fall, making the score 17-15 in favor of Saint Mary's.
Koy Nelson (Port Wing, Wis./South Shore HS) and Moe Washington (Silver Spring, Md./Hibbing Community College) displayed their spark for the offense, as Nelson drilled three three-pointers on four possessions and Washington capped off a steal with a slam dunk on the other, which tied the game at 29-29.
The Cardinals would respond, however, going on a 11-3 run, with a Winesett three-pointer being the lone basket for CSS.
Thomas and Crockett Jr. each hit a jumper before the end of the half, as the Cardinals took a nine-point lead into halftime.
Thomson and Crocket Jr. would both score for the Saints to cut the lead under double-digits, but after the Cardinals brought the lead back to 15, Nelson hit his fourth three-pointer of the night, as the score sat at 56-44.
Nelson would hit yet another three-pointer later in the half, and Washington would score a pair of layups on back-to-back possessions for the Saints, but Saint Mary's was able to break the game open, bringing its lead to 20 points.
Later in the half, Washington and Winesett took turns scoring for CSS on four possessions, as the Saints were still stuck with a 14-point deficit.
In the late minutes of the half, a three-pointer from Winesett and a layup from Thomson would be the Saints' last field goal, as the Cardinals were able to walk away with a 92-80 victory over CSS.
Hitting the Road
The Saints (1-6, 0-4) will be back in action on Saturday, where they will travel to Northfield to take on Carleton. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
