WINONA, Minn. – The St. Scholastica men's basketball team traveled to Winona this afternoon, looking to complete a season sweep over the Cardinals from Saint Mary's. Both sides went back-and-forth in the opening half, with the Saints taking a five-point lead into the halftime break. CSS was able to keep their foot on the gas in the second half, shooting above 58 percent from the field en route to a 77-68 victory over Saint Mary's. 

How it Happened

Aaron Keykal (Princeton, Minn./Princeton HS) and Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College)) contributed the opening nine points for the Saints to open the half, jumping out to a quick 9-4 lead, before Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater High School) converted on the offensive end on a fastbreak after a steal. 

The Cardinals were able to go on a quick run to take their first lead of the ballgame before Kai Penney (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo High School) scored his first points in the contest on a slam dunk, with Jacquez Overstreet (Appleton, Wis./Oshkosh West (Marian University)) recording a steal and an assist on the play. 

Overstreet helped reclaim the lead for the Saints moments later, knocking down a three-pointer, as the game sat at 16-15. 

Keykal and Crockett Jr. poured in the Saints' next two field goals, with Keykal converting a layup and Crockett Jr. knocking down a three-pointer, as the Saints trailed 22-21. 

Three-pointers from Crockett Jr. and Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater High School) helped give the Saints a five-point cushion, leading 29-24 with four minutes to play in the half. 

Thomson and Keykal closed out the half for the Saints offensively, as the duo both got shots to fall from inside the paint, with the Saints taking a 33-28 lead into the halftime break. 

Second Half

The Saints came out firing to begin the second half, as Crockett Jr. Koy Nelson (Port Wing, Wis./South Shore HS), and Keykal all scored in the early stages, pushing the Saints lead to 47-32. 

Following a Cardinals three-pointer, Overstreet and Thomson responded with jumpers, padding the lead to 16 points. 

Two possessions later, Drelyn Jones (Leyden, Il./Leyden High School) knocked down a three-pointer, coming off an assist from Crockett Jr., to make the score 54-19 with 14 minutes to play. 

After the Saints went scoreless from the 11 minute mark to the 7:40 mark in the half, Keykal ended the Saints cold streak with a layup, but strong defensive efforts kept CSS in front, leading 60-50. 

A pair of CSS layups from Overstreet and Ethan Russell (Minneapolis, Minn./Henry Sibley HS) expanded the lead to nine points, with the Saints in front 65-56 with four and a half minutes to play. 

Thomson was able to drill a jumper to bring the CSS lead back to double-digits, which was followed by a converted and-one from Keykal, giving the Saints a comfortable 14-point lead over Saint Mary's. 

Following Keykal scoring a pair of layups down the stretch, Nelson went two-for-two at the free throw line to close out today's contest, with the Saints coming out on top by a score of 77-68. 

Top Performers

• Aaron Keykal (Princeton, Minn./Princeton HS) led the Saints offensively this afternoon with 24 points while shooting 11/14 from the field.
• Andre Crockett Jr. (Rochester, Minn./Mayo HS (Rochester Community College)) logged 14 points in the victory today, as the senior guard also added four rebounds.
• Tanner Thomson (Woodbury, Minn./Stillwater High School) finished the contest today with 15 points, while also being a presence on the defensive side of the ball recording two steals. 
• Jacquez Overstreet (Appleton, Wis./Oshkosh West (Marian University)) had one of his most all-around performances of the season, as the senior scored eight points to go along with four rebounds, and a team-high five assists and three steals. 

Up Next

The Saints (8-14, 4-9 MIAC) will be back in action next Saturday, February 15th, where they will host the Cobbers from Concordia-Moorhead at the Reif Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.