UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL ENDS WEEKEND WITH 92-81 LOSS AT CONCORDIA IN ST. PAUL

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Men’s Basketball gave up 90-plus points for the second game in a row and lost to the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears 92-81 in a Northern Sun Conference game played at the Gangelhoff Center in St. Paul. 

FIRST HALF –
The UMC offense struggled in the first 12 minutes of the game and trailed 23-11 with 7:12 left in the half. The final seven minutes of the half was dominated by the Golden Eagles and it started with back-to-back layups from Zach Westphal, Harrison Cleary and a jump shot from Westphal to cap a 6-0 run to pull within a 23-17 deficit. A few minutes later, UMC trailed 28-20 when they went on a 5-0 run with three free throws from Cleary and a Javier Nicolau basket to get within three points (28-25) with two minutes to go in the half. Concordia-St. Paul made a basket before UMC’s Ibu Jassey-Demba made a three-pointer and after a Golden Bear free throw, Jassey-Demba buried another three-pointer to tie the game at 31 going into halftime.

SECOND HALF –
UMC took their first lead of the game with a three-pointer from the hot hand of Jassey-Demba 51 seconds into the half. Concordia-St. Paul answered with a 5-0 run before UMC came back with a 7-0 run with four points from Nicolau and a Malcolm Cohen three-pointer for a 41-36 lead. The teams exchanged baskets for the next six minutes and the Golden Eagles led 57-52 with 11 minutes left in the game. Concordia-St. Paul responded with a 9-0 run in a one minute span to take a 61-57 lead. The teams were tied at 67, 75 and 79. In the final three minutes of the game, Concordia-St. Paul outscored UMC 13-2 and the run started with a jump shot which was followed by a three-pointer and which was followed by eight free throws for a 92-81 Golden Bear victory.

UMC drops to 9-15 overall and 5-13 in the Northern Sun Conference and will travel to Minot State on Friday.  The Golden Bears improve to 7-15 overall and 5-13 in the conference.