UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS ROAD CONFERENCE GAME TO WAYNE STATE 62-53

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team traveled to Wayne State to take on the Wildcats in a conference matchup and fell 62-53.

FIRST HALF-
UMC fell behind early, 11-3, but Reid Grant (Jr. Johnson, IA) would make two lay-ups, a jump shot, and a free throw to pull the Golden Eagles within two of Wayne State at 13-11, about five minutes into the first half. Peter Fuchs Jr. (R-Fresh Wausau, WI) and Ben Hovers (Jr. Grand Forks, ND) would each get a lay-up to keep UMC within three before Wayne State found their rhythm from beyond the arc. The Wildcat’s lead would climb to 31-21, but UMC’s Blaize Sagna (Jr. London, England) answered with a three of his own, and Grant added a lay-up to cut the Wayne State lead down to 31-26 with two and a half minutes left in the half. The Wildcats would build their lead back up to double digits before Jordan Mitchell (R-Jr. Columbus, OH) knocked down a pair of free throws before the end of the half. Wayne State would hold a 36-28 lead at halftime. 

SECOND HALF-
Wayne State would quickly build their biggest lead of the game at 14 early in the second half. UMC answered with a 7-0 run, with Mitchell getting a lay-up, Fuchs burying a three, and De’Antray Hughes adding a dunk to make it 44-37, Wayne State with just under 14 minutes to go. The Wildcats would use a pair of two-point field goals and a pair of three-pointers to build a 15-point lead. Sagna would get a three-point play while Grant added a two as UMC trimmed Wayne State’s lead back down to single digits. Sagna would get a three to fall and hit two free throws, and Grant sunk a three to cut Wayne State’s lead down to 57-53 with three and a half minutes left in regulation. The Wildcats would ice the game with two midrange jump shots with under two minutes to go and added a late free throw to get the win, 62-53. 

UMC drops to 4-9 on the season and will take on Augustana tomorrow afternoon. Wayne State improves to 9-6 on the season and will host undefeated, #2 MSU Moorhead tomorrow.