UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL EARNS NSIC WIN OVER UNIVERSITY OF MARY

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Men’s Basketball team began an important weekend of play tonight by hosting the University of Mary Marauders. The two teams met back on December 18, with the University of Mary coming away with a 65-60 victory. UMC entered the contest in 7^th place in the NSIC North Division, with the top 6 spots at the end of the year earning a trip to the conference tournament in Sioux Falls. UMC used a late first-half run, and a strong finish to the game, for a big 71-67 victory, and they did it without their leading scorer. “Leonard Dixon (Jr. Damascus, Ore.) was unable to go tonight and is dealing with an injury, so it was important for other guys to step up tonight,” said UMC Head Coach Dan Weisse. “I am proud of the way the guys fought tonight and they all did a great job.”

FIRST HALF –

The University of Mary got a quick start with a layup, and on UMC’s first offensive possession, Ethan Channel (Jr. Beaverton, Ore.) would knock down a three-pointer giving the Golden Eagles an early 3-2 lead. The Marauders would score the next five before an Uzo Dibiamaka (So. Adelaide, Australia) layup made it 7-5 Marauders. The teams traded a few baskets and after a Nathaniel Powell (So. Nottingham, England) jumper, it was 11-10 Marauders with 15:05 remaining in the first half. The Marauders would go on a small scoring run to take a 19-15 lead, but UMC would get a layup from Marcus Thompson (Jr. Brooklyn, N.Y.), and a three from Dibiamaka, and take a 20-19 lead. The Marauders responded with seven of the next nine points to take a 26-22 lead with 6:47 left until halftime. After the teams went back and forth for a bit, it was 31-26 Marauders. UMC would then go on a 10-0 scoring run highlighted by threes from Channel and Brian Sitzmann (Sr. Savage, Minn.), and 2 points apiece from Zach Westphal (Sr. West Fargo, N.D.) and Powell. The Marauders would get two free throws before the end of the half and UMC would take a 36-33 lead into halftime. The Golden Eagles were led by Ethan Channel with 9 points, and as a team made 5 three-pointers in the first half. The Golden Eagles also had seven different players score in the first half. “Our balance was a big key for us tonight,” said UMC Head Coach Dan Weisse. “Lots of different guys stepped up and delivered when they needed to. We need to see that now the rest of the season.”

SECOND HALF –

UMC started the second half on an 8-3 run highlighted by 4 points from Thompson, 2 from Channel, and 2 from Jerome Mabry (So. Milwaukee, Wis.), giving UMC a 44-37 lead with 14:39 left to play. The Marauders would counter with a 12-5 run of their own and the game would become tied at 49-49 with 11:40 remaining. After each team scored a layup, Dibiamaka hit two straight threes to help give UMC a 57-54 lead. The Marauders countered with a layup, but Channel then scored four straight points of his own, and after a Westphal jumper, UMC had taken back control at 63-56 with 4:04 on the clock. After a University of Mary score, a few minutes went by before Channel would help seal the victory with a jumper with 1:28 remaining in the game, which put UMC in front 65-58. The Golden Eagles would get enough stops and convert a few more times to pick up a massive 71-67 NSIC win, that keeps them in the hunt for a berth to the conference tournament. “We were very physical and strong tonight,” said UMC Head Coach Dan Weisse. “We outrebounded them 38-30 and that was a big reason we won the game. Our guys continued to fight hard all night long.”

UMC improves to 8-14 on the season and 5-11 in NSIC play. They will need another win tomorrow when they host Minot State if they want to stay in the hunt for a Conference Tournament berth. The tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. inside of Lysaker Gymnasium and the game can be heard on KROX following the conclusion of the UMC Women’s game at 3:30 p.m. The University of Mary drops to 7-14 on the season and 6-10 in the NSIC.