UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL TOPS UMARY ON SENIOR DAY

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Men’s Basketball team won their final home game of the season with a 72-60 win over the University of Mary on senior day in an NSIC game played at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston.

Josh Collins (Sr., Minneapolis) finished a dunk at the rim to open the first half scoring giving the Golden Eagles an early lead. Following a 4-0 run by the Marauders giving the visitors a 6-3 lead, Josh Collins made a jump shot pulling the Golden Eagles within 6-5 before Javier Nicolau (Jr., Castellon, Spain) scored four straight points giving UMC a 9-6 lead. Following three free-throws from the Marauders tying the game at 9-9, Malcolm Cohen (R-Jr., Detroit, MI) buried a jump shot giving UMC an 11-9 lead before Brian Sitzmann (R-Fr., Savage) connected on a three pointer giving the Golden Eagles a 14-9 lead. Halfway through the first-half, Chase Johnson (R-Soph., La Crosse, WI) slammed a dunk pushing UMC in front 18-14. A UMary jumpshot with 6:13 left in the first half brought the visitors within 22-21, but Ben Juhl (Soph., Clive, IA) answered with a lay-up followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Chase Knickerbocker (Sr., Annandale) pushed the Golden Eagles ahead 30-21. Four straight points from Javier Nicolau gave UMC a twelve-point lead. Nicolau ended the first half with a buzzer-beating jump shot from the right side of the paint giving the Golden Eagles a 41-29 halftime lead. “We rebounded really well,” explaind UMC head coach Dan Weisse following his team’s strong first half. “That’s the difference between this night and last night. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game by getting back in transition and rebounding the basketball, and we made enough play on offense.”

The Marauders opened the second half with two straigh basket before Gable Smith (R-Sr., Lodi, WI) made a jump shot reestablishing a ten point lead for the hosts. Both sides traded basket before Harrison Cleary (Jr., Oak Creek, WI) scored five straight points extending UMC’s lead to 56-42 with 12:12 to play. Malcolm Cohen hit a three-pointer with 10:05 to play adding to Minnesota Crookston 59-44 lead. The Marauders managed to pull within ten points with 1:51 to play, but UMary’s comeback bid ended their with Minnesota Crookston closing out a 72-60 win in the final minute. “We knew tonight was going to be similar to last night in terms of the physicality,” explained Weisse. “We knew it might be a little ugly, but we made enough plays tonight to get the win. That’s what upperclassmen can do for you. This was the first time we had to respond at home after a Friday night loss in conference play. It was senior night. It was a big night and our guy’s absolutely handled it well and were able to come out on top.”

Minnesota Crookston improves to 16-13 overall and 9-11 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles return to the court on Friday when UMC travels to Minnesot Duluth for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on KROX. UMary falls to 11-15 overall and 8-12 in conference play.