BOLIVAR, Mo. – Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) had one of the best debuts of any freshman in program history as his 34 points catapulted the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team to a 73-64 win over Southwest Baptist University. The game was the first in the SBU Classic for the Golden Eagles Fri., Nov. 11 at John Q. Hammons Court in Bolivar, Mo.

"This was a total team effort," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "I am very proud how each of our guys battled every possession and each contributed in their own way. It feels good to start the season this way. We have a very good opponent in Lincoln tomorrow. We will let our players enjoy this win for another hour or two."

The season-opening win is the first for UMC since a Nov. 9, 2012 victory over Presentation College. The Golden Eagles improve to 1-0 on the season, while Southwest Baptist fell to 0-1. Minnesota Crookston is opening the season with two games against schools from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAA), a league in the same region as the NSIC. 

Cleary had 34 points on 15-of-22 from the field and 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. He added seven boards. Chase Knickerbocker (So., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) added 13 points on 4-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Gable Smith (R-So., F, Lodi, Wis.) did a lot of the grunt work with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks and two steals.

"Harrison Cleary had a special game," Weisse said. "He made a number of big time plays and he didn't force anything. He just took advantage of the situations that presented themselves. I'm very proud of him. He is only going to keep getting better, as well." 

Kobe Critchley (So., G, Roseville, Minn.) would chip in seven points and three assists, while Xavier Hall (Sr., G, Woodbury, Minn.) came off the bench for five points.

Minnesota Crookston was 28-of-50 from the field for a stellar 56.0 percent. In addition, they were 9-of-20 from beyond the arc for 45.0 percent. They were out-rebounded by the Bearcats 37-31. 

Southwest Baptist was limited to just 20-of-56 from the field for 35.7 percent. They were 9-of-20 from behind the three-point line for 45.0 percent. The Bearcats were led by Brian Patterson's play in the post as he finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. He was 8-of-13 from the field. Kalehl Brown added 11 points, including going 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

Cartier Dean chipped in eight points for the Bearcats. 

The Golden Eagles took a 20-12 lead in the first half after Chase Johnson (Fr., G/F, La Crosse, Wis.) found Cleary for a three-pointer. The Bearcats would be able to cut the UMC advantage to 24-21 on a Patterson trey. However, a UMC run culminating in a Hall old-fashioned three-point play would get the lead back out to 29-21 with 5:22 left in the half. 

Southwest Baptist wouldn't go away though as they would cut the lead to 34-30 on a Cartree Portis lay-up. UMC would get the lead back out to 38-31 but Brown would drill a three-pointer with six seconds left in the half to cut SBU's deficit to 38-34 going into the break.

The Bearcats would come out of the break and take the lead 39-38 on a Patterson lay-up. The Golden Eagles and the Bearcats would trade the lead for the next several minutes. Minnesota Crookston would be able to take the lead back for good as Knickerbocker and Critchley hit back-to-back threes around the six minute mark of the second half. 

Southwest Baptist would be able to cut the deficit to 60-57 on a Patterson lay-in with 4:33 remaining. The Golden Eagles would be able to hold on as they out-scored the Bearcats 13-7 in the final four minutes.

Minnesota Crookston will continue play at the SBU Classic Sat., Nov. 12 against Lincoln University of Missouri at 1:30 p.m. at John Q. Hammons Court in Bolivar, Mo. 

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

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

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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