Box Score Highlights

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston men's basketball team struggled to get going Friday from the onset of their game against Concordia University, St. Paul as the Golden Eagles fell 88-66. The Golden Bears were the 11^th team this season to shoot over 50.0 percent against UMC and pick up a victory. Concordia-St. Paul finished Friday shooting 55 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range with 10 converted treys. The Golden Eagles lose their 17th-straight game and fall to 3-18 (0-17 NSIC) on the year. The Golden Bears improve to 6-15 (4-13 NSIC).

Ashton Harrell (Jr., G, Houston, Texas) remained in the starting line-up for the second-straight game and led the Golden Eagles with 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting Friday night. Tim Lubke (So., G, St. Paul, Minn.) came off the bench for eight points including two three-pointers while Almir Krdzalic (Sr., G, Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Brandon Burns (Jr., F, Baton Rouge, La.) each tallied seven points. On paper, the Golden Eagles played a solid game as they shot 27-of-60 for 45.0 percent and 6-of-17 for 35.3 percent but were unable to make opportune baskets and the Golden Bears were.

UMC won the rebounding battle on the night 33-32 led by six rebounds from Harrell. Cordell Smith paced the Golden Bears with six rebounds.

Concordia-St. Paul had two players score over 20 points led by Cole Olstad's 28 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field including 4 threes while Terez VanPelt added 24 points including 3 threes. Mike Yahnke came off the bench for the Golden Bears for 10 points. The Golden Bears were 33-of-60 for 55.0 percent and 10-of-22 for 45.5 percent from trey.

The Golden Eagles were able to hold their disadvantage at five points for three minutes of the first half until Concordia-St. Paul used a 7-0 run to jet out to a 12-point lead at 18-6 with 14:39 remaining following free throws by Smith. UMC was able to cut the Concordia lead back down to 10 following a Burns three to make it 18-8 at the 14:19 mark. However, the Golden Bears would use a 18-5 run led by VanPelt and Yahnke to make it 36-13 with 7:30 remaining. Concordia-St. Paul would use that run to help catapult them to a 52-27 advantage at the break.

The Golden Bears used four quick points out of the break to make it 56-27 with 18:00 remaining. Krdzalic would answer with a three to cut it to 56-30 but Smith would counter with a three of his own to make it 59-30 with 17:00 left. The Golden Eagles would cut Concordia's advantage to 25 after a Tomas Parker (So., C, Pequot Lakes, Minn.) jumper and would continue a comeback bid as they got the Golden Bear advantage down to 21 after Justin Rake (Sr., G, Petal, Miss.) made a lay-up.

Concordia-St. Paul quickly punched back using five points from VanPelt to get out a 67-41 lead with 11:56 remaining. The closest UMC would come for the rest of the game was 23 points following a Lubke three at the 7:09 mark until right at the conclusion of the game as A.J. Barge (R-Fr., G, Carrollton, Ga.) converted a three-point play to make it 88-66 at the final buzzer.
The Golden Eagles will trek to No. 5 Minnesota State University, Mankato Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).