FREE THROWS LEAD UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL TO OVERTIME WIN OVER CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball team outscored the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears 10-6 in overtime to come away with an 84-80 victory in a game played at Gary Senske Court in Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.  UMC was led by Brian Sitzmann’s (Jr. Savage) 19 points and seven rebounds and Georges Darwiche’s (Jr. Bucharest, Romania) 18 points, 6 rebounds, and four assists. 

FIRST HALF –
UMC couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game when they went on an 11-0 run.  Morgan Carter (Jr. Porthcawl, Whales) led the way with five points, Ibu Jassey-Demba had four points, and Brian Sitzman added a basket for the Golden Eagle 11-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.  “It was a great start,” said UMC Coach Dan Weisse. “We came out strong, moved the ball, made some shots, and played good defense.”  Concordia-St. Paul stopped the UMC run with a three-pointer with 16:27 left in the half.  UMC kept the lead anywhere between 11 down to seven points for most of the first half, but Concordia-St. Paul got within a 31-27 deficit with 3:31 remaining.  UMC answered with a big shot from Josh Dilling (Fresh. Oshkosh, Wis) and after a couple of Golden Bear free throws, Darwiche made a big three-pointer for a 36-29 lead and the Golden Eagles took a 40-34 lead into halftime.  “It was a mimic of yesterday’s first half,” said Coach Weisse. “If you look at the stats, they look the same and it is amazing how close they are.”

SECOND HALF –
UMC had a good start to the second half when Darwiche scored the first five points of the half for a 45-34 lead 38 seconds into the half.  Concordia-St. Paul responded with a 9-0 run to get within a 45-43 deficit four minutes later.  The rest of the half was back-and-forth until Concordia-St. Paul tied the game at 72 with 3:12 remaining in the second half.  It was the first tie of the game. UMC’s Sitzman answered with a basket to give them a 74-72 lead, but the Golden Bears responded with a Marcus Skeete basket to tie the game at 74 with 46 seconds left.  “Today we communicated better and stayed together and were on the same page,” said Sitzman on KROX Radio. “My offensive role has stepped up this year and I am trying to do whatever I can do to get a win.” UMC had two shots in the final 15 seconds of regulation and missed both and the teams were tied at 74 at the end of regulation, forcing overtime. “We kept battling, kept fighting and played better offensively and defensively in the second half compared to what we did yesterday.  Brian (Sitzmann) had a great second half for us on both ends of the floor and that was great to see today.”

OVERTIME
Concordia-St. Paul took their first lead of the game when Skeete made a layup for a 76-74 lead 54 seconds into the five-minute overtime period.  UMC responded with a Dilling basket to tie the game.  The Golden Bears answered with two free throws with 1:15 remaining for a 78-76 lead, but UMC’s Darwiche answered with a three-point play with 53 seconds remaining. “That was a big shot and I am glad I made it,” said Darwiche on KROX Radio after the game. “It was a big play for us and I was happy it went in.”  Darwiche added two more free throws with 23 seconds remaining to give UMC an 81-78 lead.  After a Concordia-St. Paul layup, UMC responded with two Dilling free throws and with one second left, Darwiche iced the win making one of two free throws and the Golden Eagles held on for an 84-80 victory.  “I should have made the last free throw,” said a laughing Darwiche. “When I am at the free-throw line I am never nervous.  It is a free shot…..free money, so you gotta take it.  It feels great and with so many new guys the chemistry is great and we are trying to build on it every day.” 

UMC improves to 1-1 on the year and will host Minnesota State Moorhead on Friday and Saturday.  Concordia-St. Paul drops to 1-1 on the year.