CROOKSTON, Minn. – A 7-0 run to end the first half and an 8-0 run in the second half helped lift Concordia University-St. Paul to a 72-53 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-9 (4-7 NSIC) with the loss to the Golden Bears. An improved Concordia team, also in their first year under a new coach with Joey James, moves to 10-6 (6-4 NSIC).

"We did the best we could and it wasn't enough so we will have to get back to the drawing board," said UMC Head Coach Dan Weisse. "Derrick Redd is playing really good basketball and we need more guys to step up like that and hit some shots."

Minnesota Crookston was led on the night by strong games from guards Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) and Kevin Larson (Sr., G, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). The pair accounted for 30 of 53 points, or 56.6 percent of UMC's scoring. Redd had 14 points and three assists, while Larson had 15 points and four rebounds. Tyler West, Jr. (Sr., G/F, Portland, Ore./Communications) finished with six points and six rebounds, while John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) also had six.

The Golden Eagles were 22-of-47 for 46.8 percent from the field and 7-of-25 for 28.0 percent from beyond the arc. They only attempted four shots from the charity stripe on the game and were controlled on the boards, 37-21.

Concordia-St. Paul was led by Cole Olstad's 21 points, while Nuni Omot secured a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The Golden Bears were 25-of-55 for 45.5 percent from the field and 10-of-22 for 45.5 percent from beyond the arc, led by four treys from Olstad and three from Jon Sobaski. In addition, they were 12-of-15 for 80 percent from the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles were able to hold it within striking distance early on in the game, holding their deficit under 10. UMC would find themselves down six after a Redd lay-in with 2:39 left in the half, but would allow Concordia to end the half on a 7-0 run in the final minute led by a pair of jumpers from Keith Crockett and a trey from Omot.

UMC would be able to close the Concordia lead to seven early in the second half following a Larson three, but another run doomed the Golden Eagles as Concordia rattled off eight-straight points, all from the hand of Olstad, to take a 50-35 advantage with 12:06 remaining. The Golden Eagles would be unable to climb out of that whole for the remainder of the game, falling 72-53 to Concordia-St. Paul.

UMC will take on No. 21 Minnesota State University, Mankato Sat., Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. The Golden Eagles have had strong moments to the season, but currently find themselves opening the 2015 calendar year with a 1-4 mark. UMC will look to get out of their slump against a very tough Maverick team led by two of the conference's best in forward Assem Marei and point guard Zach Monaghan.

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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).