UMC MEN’S BASKETBALL FIRST HALF STRUGGLES COSTLY IN LOSS TO NORTHERN MICHIGAN

For the second straight game, the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team struggled late in the first half and outscored their opponent in the second half, and fell short in an 86-69 loss to Northern Michigan University in a game played at Lysaker Gymnasium on Gary Senske Court in Crookston. 

FIRST HALF- 
Northern Michigan started the game with the first basket for a quick 2-0 lead, but UMC responded with an Ethan Channel (Jr. Beaverton, OR) layup, Brian Sitzmann (Sr. Savage) basket, and an Uzo Dibiamaka (Soph. Adelaide, South Australia) free throw to cap a 5-0 run for a 5-2 lead three minutes into the game.    Both teams were cool from the field and neither team scored for two minutes before Northern Michigan started to warm up by going on a 23-5 run over a 10-minute span.  UMC finally broke the run with a Jerome Mabry (Soph. Milwaukee, Wis) three-point play to get within a 25-8 deficit.  Sitzmann added two free throws and after a Northern Michigan basket, UMC answered with a Sitzman three-point play.  After another Northern Michigan basket, UMC’s Sitzmann stayed hot and added two more points to get within a 29-20 deficit with 5:36 left in the half. Northern Michigan stopped any thoughts of a late UMC comeback as they scored six straight points to take a 35-20 lead with under five minutes left in the half.  Northern Michigan finished the final five minutes of the half on a 10-7 run to take a 45-27 lead into halftime.  

SECOND HALF –
Northern Michigan came out of the second half strong and went on a 9-2 run in the first 100 seconds for a commanding 54-28 lead.  UMC trailed 56-32 when Sitzmann made a three-pointer, followed by a Zen Goodridge free throw, Siztmann added another free throw, Dibiamaka added a basket, Goodridge had a basket in the paint, Sitzmann scored two more points for his 20th point of the game, and Zach Westphal (Sr. West Fargo, ND) capped the  13-2 run with a basket to get within a 58-45 deficit.   UMC would slowly chip away at the deficit and got within a 74-62 deficit, but Northern Michigan held on in the final four minutes for an 86-69 victory. 

UMC drops to 1-2 on the year and will host Michigan Tech on Saturday.  Northern Michigan improves to 2-1 on the year.