The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team struggled in the second half and lost 82-71 to Oklahoma Baptist University in the American Family Insurance Classic in Duluth.
FIRST HALF –
UMC made its first shot attempt of the season when Aguek Deng buried a three-pointer for a 3-0 lead 20 seconds into the game. OBU answered with seven points before UMC’s Reid Grant and Micah Garrett made three-pointers for a 9-7 lead. The game was tied at 9, 14, and 17 before UMC’s Chandler Meeks made a three-pointer, and Grant made a basket for a 22-17 lead. UMC held the lead and still had a five-point lead after a Garrett three-pointer for a 31-26 lead. The run continued when Andrew Stokes made two free throws, and Meeks made two layups for a 37-26 lead with 5:19 left in the half. OBU ended the half on a 13-4 run, and UMC’s lead was cut to 41-39 at halftime.
SECOND HALF –
Both teams started the second half cold. The first points were scored over two minutes into the half with an OBU basket to tie the game at 41-41. The teams were tied at 43, 45, and 47. UMC trailed 53-50 after a Garrett three-pointer, but OBU responded with a 10-2 run to take a 63-52 lead with 7:38 left in the game. UMC’s Jordan Mitchell stopped the run with a basket, only to have OBU respond with seven points for a 70-54 lead. The Golden Eagles’ Andrew Stokes scored his seven point of the game on a layup and after a OBU free throw he added another basket, Meeks added a pair of free throws, Grant had a three-point play to get within a 71-63 deficit with 2:37 remaining. OBU responded with two free throws before UMC’s Mitchell scored his 10th point of the game on a layup. That would be as close as the Golden Eagles would get as OBU won the game 82-71. UMC only made 10 of 33 shots in the second half for 30 percent, and they were 2 of 15 on three-point attempts.
UMC drops to 0-1 on the year and will play East Central University at 11:00 a.m. in Duluth. Oklahoma Baptist University improves to 1-0 on the year.
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| UM-Crookston | 41 | 30 | 71 |
| Oklahoma Baptist | 39 | 43 | 82 |
| For UMC | Points | Rebounds | Assists/Steals |
| Chandler Meeks | 18 | 2 | 4 assists |
| Reid Grant | 17 | 10 | 5 assists |
| Micah Garrett | 14 | 6 | |
| Jordan Mitchell | 10 | 3 | 6 blocks |
| Andrew Stokes | 9 | 4 | 2 assists |
| Aguek Deng | 3 | 6 | 2 assists |
