CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston opened the 2014-15 season with a 69-65 exhibition loss to the University of Wisconsin-Superior at Lysaker Gymnasium in Crookston, Minn. The game was the head coaching debut for Dan Weisse, who took over for Jeff Oseth. The Golden Eagles were up 34-29 at the break but Wisconsin-Superior went on a 8-2 run to open the second half and UMC struggled to find the hoop and to stop the Yellowjackets as they swarmed the basket.

UMC had nine second-half turnovers and shot 9-of-21 for the half for 42.9 percent, but were just 1-of-6 for 16.7 percent from beyond the arc. Wisconsin-Superior was 11-of-25 for 44.0 percent and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. John Denny led the way in the second half with 13 second-half points. UMC was fairly one-dimensional in the second half, led by Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management), who accounted for 15 of 31 UMC points in the second half. He was 6-of-7 from the field.

UMC went toe-to-toe with Wisconsin-Superior down the stretch, but up one 63-62, Redd would be fouled by Cole Minnich, but would miss two crucial free throws. A free throw from Johnquez Brooks would knot things up at 63-63 with 1:22 remaining. A lay-up for Brian Lindblom and a made free throw on the and-one would give Wisconsin-Superior the 66-63 advantage with 50 seconds left.

UMC would run down the court and Redd would get a thunderous dunk as the seas parted to get UMC within one with 39 seconds left.

The Golden Eagles would then foul, sending Brooks to the line where he would make two to give the Yellowjackets a 68-65 lead.

The Golden Eagles would be unable to make the three to tie and Lindblom would make a free throw as Wisconsin-Superior would hang on for the win.

UMC was led by Redd, who was 8-of-12 from the field with 19 points, three rebounds and three assists. Tim Lubke (Sr., G, St. Paul, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) showed a more well-rounded game Saturday, moving away from his signature three-point shot. Lubke was 4-of-9 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc with 11 points. Tyler West, Jr. (Sr., F, Portland, Ore./Communications) added 10 points and five boards.

John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) led the team on the board with seven, he added five points. Sam Howell (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash./Sports and Rec Management) added a spark off the bench, especially in the first half, with five points and three assists.
Jim Warmack (Fr., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn./Management) showed signs of what is to come with seven points and three boards in 15 minutes.

The Golden Eagles were 23-of-50 for 46.0 percent from the field and 5-of-16 for 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. They were 14-of-17 from the charity stripe for 82.4 percent.

Wisconsin-Superior was led by Brooks, who had 17 points on the game. Denny added 13 points, while Minnich had 12 and Ty Ketz added 10. The Yellowjackets were 21-of-49 from the field for 42.9 percent and 8pof-21 for 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. They also were strong from the free-throw line, going 19-of-21 for 90.5 percent.

The Golden Eagles will open up the regular season as they trek to Seattle, Wash. to take on Central Washington University Nov. 14 and Seattle Pacfic University Nov. 15. The trip will be a visit home for Howell, a native of Seattle.

The For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website 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).