CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota-Crookston men's basketball team would pick up their second victory of the season following an 83-62 win over Waldorf University. The Golden Eagles took advantage of the Warriors mistakes scoring 24 points off of 14 turnovers. The Warriors outscored the Golden Eagles 38-34 in the second half however it would not be enough to escape their poor shooting in the first half. Minnesota Crookston would also do a great job of moving the ball as they finished with 19 assists on 30 made baskets, led by a career-high 10 assists from Xavier Hall (Sr., G, Woodbury, Minn.). Hall tied the school record set by Tryg Spilde against University of Minnesota Morris in 2002.

The Golden Eagles move to 2-2 on the season as they bounced back from Tuesday's loss to University of Wisconsin-Stout. They also avenge a 75-69 loss to Waldorf last season in Forest City, Iowa. The Warriors fall to 2-5 with the loss on Thursday.

Minnesota Crookston would have 12 of 13 players who appeared in the game score as they had great balance on the night. Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.) continued his strong start to his career with 19 points on 7-of-14 from the field and 3-of-7 from beyond the arc. Cleary is averaging 21.3 points per game on the year. His fellow freshman Chase Johnson (Fr., G/F, La Crosse, Wis.) came off the bench for 10 points and seven boards. Kobe Critchley (So., G, Roseville, Minn.) would add 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Chase Knickerbocker (So., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) and Connor Gamble (R-Fr., G, Stillwater, Minn.) would each chip in eight points.

Minnesota Crookston shot 30-of-59 from the field for 50.8 percent. They were 12-of-29 from beyond the arc for 41.4 percent and 11-of-13 for 84.6 percent from the charity stripe.

Waldorf would shoot 19-of-54 from the field for 35.2 percent. The Warriors were just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc for 11.1 percent and 23-of-34 for 67.6 percent from the charity stripe.

Waldorf looked to a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds from Kaden Verdin. The Golden Eagles limited two of the Warriors' key players, Michael Morgan and June Prowell, to just two points apiece in the first half. Both players would have better second halves as Morgan finished with 11 points and six boards, while Prowell had 16 points and six boards.

 The Golden Eagles started off strong going 6-of-9 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Waldorf started off just 2-of-6 from the field and 0-of-2 behind the arc. Heading into the first media timeout UMC led 15-7.

UMC eventually went on a 13 point run including a near dunk by Riley Rice (Sr., F/C, Mullen, Neb.) and big back-to-back three pointers from Gamble and Critchley bringing the score to 30-14 in favor of the Golden Eagles.  

Xavier Hall picked up an assist in which he was falling to the floor and still found Gamble who picked up the three. Hall also picked up a steal and took it coast to coast for two.

Rice and Cleary picked up threes in the last minute of the first half causing UMC to take a 49-24 lead into the half. Waldorf went 0-of-5 from beyond the arc and just 8-of-29 from the field in the first half. Minnesota Crookston shot 8-of-14 from the field and 19-of-30 from beyond the arc.

Cleary would make a three and a jumper to score the first five points of the second half for UMC. The Warriors picked up 6-of-10 points in the first five minutes of the second quarter on free throws.

Knickerbocker knocked down a three and Johnson made a layup to extend the Golden Eagles' lead to 62-39 heading into the first media timeout.

The Golden Eagles would have a strong outing from their bench who picked up 36 of their 83 points. The Warriors on the other hand only had nine points from their bench.

Minnesota Crookston will continue their home stand on Tues., Nov. 22 as they head into Thanksgiving with a match-up against University of Jamestown.