DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston would overcome a 16-point second-half deficit to put pressure on University of Minnesota Duluth, but would fall 78-71 to the Bulldogs. UMC would get as close as 74-71 with less than 30 seconds left, but the Bulldogs would be able to win the game at the free throw line. The game would ultimately be won at the free throw line as both teams attempted a combined 71 free throws. UMD hit five more from the charity stripe than the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles fall to 2-4 (0-2 NSIC) as they have now lost the last three games by a combined 13 points, showing that they are close. Minnesota Duluth improves to 5-2 (2-0 NSIC) with the victory.

UMC was led by 17 points from C.J. Polk (So., G, Milwaukee, Wis.) on 5-of-14 from the field and 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Derrick Redd, Jr. (Sr., G, Menifee, Calif.) added 14 on 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. Kobe Critchley (Fr., G, Roseville, Minn.) would have a nice second half as he finished with 10 points, led by 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. Chase Knickerbocker (Fr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) added eight including a pair of threes.

The Golden Eagles struggled from the field, going 20-of-59 for 33.9 percent. They were 8-of-27 for 29.6 percent. Where things were interesting, in a battle at the foul line, was the charity stripe, where UMC was 23-of-32 for 71.9 percent.

Minnesota Duluth was led by 16 points from Taylor Lavery, who was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Pierre Newton added 16, including 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Junior Coleman chipped in 12, while Brendon Pineda had 11 and eight. Newton had a double-double with 10 rebounds.

The Bulldogs were 22-of-52 for 42.3 percent from the field and 6-of-19 for 31.6 percent from beyond the arc. UMD was 28-of-39 for 71.8 percent from the free-throw line.

The Golden Eagles would find themselves down by as much as 25-13 out of the gate following a Coleman three-pointer with 11:12 left in the first half. UMC would go on an 8-2 run led by three-point buckets from Redd and Gable Smith (R-Fr., F, Lodi, Wis.) as they cut the advantage to 27-21 with 8:05 remaining.

The Bulldogs would be able to push their lead back out to 34-25 on a Newton three-pointer with 6:15 left in the first half.

A three off the bench from Walton and two free throws from Xavier Hall (Jr., G, Woodbury, Minn.)( would cut the lead for UMD down to 34-30 with 4:51 as the Golden Eagle reserves helped UMC back into the game.

UMC would get the game within two points as Polk connected on a jumper with 3:48 remaining in the half to make it 36-34 Bulldogs. A Coleman lay-up would help push the Bulldog lead back out to 39-34 with 2:10 left in the half, followed by a converted free throw to make the old-fashioned three-point play.

The Golden Eagles would quickly strike back with a Knickerbocker three to make it 40-37 with 1:51 left in the half.

After Newton hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with 26 seconds left, UMC would get the ball back with one more chance in the half. Brendon Pineda would block the Ben Grygiel (Jr., F, Rockford, Ill.) three, which Polk would rebound and put up a last ditch three that would fall to get UMC within 41-40 at the break.

UMC was led by Polk, who was 3-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the charity stripe in the first half. Redd added nine points, including going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Smith and A.J. Walton (R-Fr., G/F, Oak Hills, Calif.) each chipped in five points for the Golden Eagles. UMC was 12-of-29 for 41.4 percent from the field and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc for 42.9 percent in the first half.

The Bulldogs were led by nine points from Lavery. Coleman added nine, while Newton added eight. UMD was 12-of-27 for 44.4 percent from the field and just 4-of-12 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Minnesota Duluth would push their lead out to 49-42 early in the second half. The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 49-45 as Jim Warmack (So., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) would go 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. However, Pineda would strike back with an old-fashioned three-point play to push the advantage out to 52-45 with 12 minutes left in the game.

A Kyle Schalow trey would push the lead out to 57-45 for the Bulldogs. A Lavery transition lay-up would push the UMD lead out to 59-45 with 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Coleman would push the Bulldog lead out to 61-45. The Golden Eagles would stop the bleeding as Knickerbocker hit a trey to make it 61-48. Schalow would then hit another three though to push the lead to 64-48.

The Golden Eagles would get the lead back down to single digits as Critchley hit a clutch three and was fouled, where he would make his one from the charity stripe. The unconventional four-point play would get UMC within 64-56 with 6:30 left in the game.

The Golden Eagles would get the Bulldog lead down to seven as Redd went 1-of-2 from the charity stripe with just over five minutes left in the game.

Knickerbocker would then get into the lane for a nice jumper to get UMC within 66-61 with 4:30 left. A Bulldog offensive foul would quickly give the ball back to the Golden Eagles. Redd would miss his first attempt but get his own rebound and put it back in to get UMC within 66-63 with 3:30 left in the game.

Newton would get the bucket on the other end to push the Bulldog led to 68-63. Lavery was then fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws to make it 69-63 with 2:35 remaining.
Redd would get to the lane again in a crucial spot to cut the lead to 69-65 with two minutes left. However, Pineda would drive to the lane and get fouled and get three points to put the UMD lead out to 72-65 with 1:50 left in the game. UMC wouldn't give up as Critchley would get two and one from the charity stripe to get the lead back down to 72-68 with 1:35 left in the game.

Newton would again come up big with the bucket to make it 74-68 but Polk would counter with his own basket to make it 74-70 with 1:01 remaining.

Redd would force a clutch charge, giving UMC the ball back with 35 seconds left. Critchley would then take it to the hoop where he was fouled, going to the line for two. Critchley would hit 1-of-2 to cut the lead to 74-71 with 26 seconds left.

UMC would quickly foul Schalow, where he would go to the line and hit both to make it 76-71 with 21 seconds remaining.

UMC would get the chance to get the lead down, but would miss. The Bulldogs would add two more free throws to come away with the 78-71 win.

The Golden Eagles will head to St. Cloud State University to face the Huskies Sat., Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. at Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.

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.


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