The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle men’s basketball team hung with the Augustana Vikings the entire game, but just did not have enough as the Vikings held on for an 85-77 victory at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston on Saturday Afternoon.
FIRST HALF –
The first half was very close throughout, with no team getting a lead larger than 3 points for the first 7 minutes of the game. The first moment came from Augustana, as a putback layup put them up 14-10. UMC had an answer, however, as Kazadiu Mukoma Jr. scored back-to-back layups to tie the game. After the game was tied at 16, neither team scored for 2 minutes before Augustana scored 7 consecutive points to give the Vikings a 23-16 lead. UMC answered with 5 Donez Lindsay points to cut the lead down to 23-21, but were unable to tie the game up again. After Augustana brought the lead back to 7, UMC kept fighting, and eventually cut the lead to 3. However, a layup with 10 seconds remaining gave Augustana a 33-28 lead at the half.
SECOND HALF –
As the second half started, UMC began to claw their way back into the game. After the Vikings took a 37-30 lead, a 13-5 run cut the lead down to 42-41. However, the Golden Eagles from this point and for the rest of the game were unable to tie the game again. When the Vikings took a 45-43 lead, they proceeded to go on an 8-2 run to go up 53-45. The lead would hover around that number until the Vikings brought the lead to double digits at 58-48. UMC looked to fight back again, and they cut the lead down to 4 with the help of JD Roberts, but were unable to find the second gear to tie the game again. From this point forward, even though they were unable to go on any significant runs, Augustana was able to pull away. Their largest lead of the game was 12, and they were able to hold on for an 85-77 win.
UMC drops to 3-14 on the season, 1-10 in the NSIC. Augustana is now 10-7 on the year, while 8-4 in the conference.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Crookston | 28 | 49 | 77 |
| Augustana | 33 | 52 | 85 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Other |
| Donez Lindsey | 23 | 3 | 2 assists/2 steals |
| Spencer Swenson | 22 (career high) | 4 | 2 blocks/1 steal/1 assist |
| Kazadi Mukoma Jr. | 14 | 9 | 3 steals/2 assists |
| J.D. Roberts | 9 | 2 assists/1 steal | |
| Alijah Washington | 4 | 3 | 1 steal |
| GD Deng | 4 | 1 | |
| Brayden Carlson | 1 | 1 | 1 assist |
