UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL UPSET BID FALLS SHORT AGAINST DEFENDING NATIONAL CHAMPS

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Men’s Basketball team led the defending national championS and top-ranked team in the country Northwest Missouri State 26-25 at halftime, but Minnesota Crookston’s offense didn’t match its defense in the second half as the Bearcats closed out a 60-52 win in a non-conference game played in St. Joseph, Missouri. 

In the first half, Northwest Missouri State opened the game with two free throws before point guard Harrison Cleary (Sr., Oak Creek, WI) scored five-straight points giving UMC a 5-2 lead. Following a Bearcats lay-up, center Javier Nicolau (Sr., Castellon, Spain) scored inside followed by a Harrison Cleary three-pointer giving Minnesota Crookston a 10-4 lead. The defending national champions pulled within 10-8 after a 4-0 run, but guard Brian Sitzmann (R-Soph., Savage) countered with a three-pointer giving the Golden Eagles a 13-8 lead with 11:03 remaining in the first half. Cleary used another 5-0 burst extending Minnesota Crookston’s lead to 18-10 with 9:44 to play in the half. Northwest Missouri State rallied with an 8-0 run tying the game at 18-18. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch with the Golden Eagles taking a 26-25 lead into halftime. 

Northwest Missouri State opened the second half with a 7-0 run giving the Bearcats a 32-36 lead with 17:06 to play. Chase Johnson (R-Jr., La Crosse, WI) made a mid-range jump shot for Minnesota Crookston’s first points of the second half with 15:59 to play bringing the Golden Eagles within 32-28. After UMC pulled within 34-30, Northwest Missouri State countered with an 8-0 run taking a 41-30 lead with 12:31 to play. Ben Juhl (Jr., Clive, IA) and Brian Sitzmann hit a pair of three-pointers trimming the Golden Eagles’ deficit down to 43-36. A 4-0 run over 2:19 cut Northwest Missouri State’s lead down to 45-40 with 6:05 to play. Northwest Missouri State scored on their next two possessions regaining a 49-40 lead and they would hang on the rest of the game making free-throws down the stretch securing a 60-52 win.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-1 and will play Missouri Western State Saturday at 8:00 P.M. Northwest Missouri State improves to 3-0.