MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team fell 74-57 to the University of Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Golden Eagles put up a great fight only losing by 17 to a NCAA Division I team. They were down just four points at the half (30-26) to their Big Ten counterparts. Sunday was the first exhibition of the season for UMC and Head Coach Dan Weisse, who is entering his second season.

The new look Golden Eagles featured strong performances from several newcomers. UMC was led by Nate Lorenz (Fr., F/C, Breckenridge, Minn.), who had 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. C.J. Polk (So., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) added eight points, while Chase Knickerbocker (Fr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) came off the bench for eight points with two made three-pointers. Derrick Redd, Jr. (Sr., G, Menifee, Calif.) the lone returning starter for UMC had seven points, five rebounds and three assists.

Freshman Kobe Critchley (G, Roseville, Minn.) didn't score but had six assists on the evening. Gable Smith (R-Fr., F, Lodi, Wis.) had five points and six rebounds, while Ben Grygiel (Jr., F, Rockford, Ill.) had five points and eight rebounds.

The Golden Eagles shot 22-of-58 from the field for 37.9 percent and were 4-of-15 for 26.7 percent from beyond the arc. UMC did struggle with turnovers against the Golden Gophers with 21 on the game.

Minnesota was led by Jordan Murphy, who came off the bench for 19 points and nine rebounds. Guard Nate Mason had 12 points and four assists, while Charles Buggs had 11 points. Gaston Diedhiou had nine points and eight rebounds. The Golden Gophers were 27-of-70 for 38.6 percent and were 7-of-20 for 35.0 percent. The Golden Gophers narrowly out-rebounded UMC 46-45, as the smaller Golden Eagles held their own on the glass.

UMC will look to continue off strong momentum against a good Golden Gopher team as they host College of St. Scholastica in their second exhibition game of the season Sat., Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.

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

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.