Box Score DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team used a strong overtime period to take down the College of Saint Scholastica 85-80 in exhibition play Fri., Nov. 4 at Reif Gym in Duluth, Minn. The Golden Eagles move to 1-0 in exhibition play as they get ready to open up their regular-season schedule Nov. 11 against Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.
The Golden Eagles were led by a stand-out performance from freshman
Harrison Cleary (Fr., G, Oak Creek, Wis.), who made a good first impression with 21 points on 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Cleary added seven rebounds.
Chase Knickerbocker (So., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) added 18 points on 6-of-17 from the field and 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Gable Smith (R-So., F, Lodi, Wis.) would be crucial inside with the job he did on the board with 16 rebounds. He would complete a double-double with 11 points.
Kobe Critchley (So., G, Roseville, Minn.) added 15 points and three assists.
Off the bench, UMC looked to
Connor Gamble (R-Fr., G, Stillwater, Minn.) with seven points and six boards.
The Golden Eagles shot 29-of-66 for 43.9 percent from the field. In addition, they were 7-of-21 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. They narrowly out-rebounded the Saints 48-47.
Saint Scholastica looked to 21 points and 12 rebounds from Kory Deadrick. Julius Johnson added 17 points, while Joe Stark had 15 and Brandon Newman had 11. Deadrick was 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.
The Saints were 27-of-74 for 36.5 percent from the field and 9-of-32 for 28.1 percent from three-point range.
UMC would go into the break up 32-30. They would lead 30-23 after a
Gable Smith lay-up with 3:50. But the Saints would close the gap as they would cut the deficit to 32-30 on a Mitch Liebert lay-up.
The Golden Eagles would go on a 9-2 run to open up the second half as Knickerbocker hit a three and Cleary had four points. The pesky Saints wouldn't go away as they would get within 43-42 on a Stark lay-in with 13:37 left in the contest.
UMC would be able to get their lead back out to a 53-46 lead after a pair of Smith free throws. However, a Collin Anderson jumper and a Deadrick three would again get Saint Scholastica within two at 53-51 with 8:16 left in regulation.
Minnesota Crookston would be able to get their lead back out to 62-56 on a
Riley Rice (Sr., F/C, Mullen, Neb.) lay-up with 4:34 remaining in the second half. The Saints again would stay in it and would get within 62-60 with 4:05 left on a pair of Stark free throws.
The Golden Eagles would get back out to a 68-62 advantage with 1:38 left after a pair of Critchley free throws. However, again the Saints would not go away as Johnson came up with a clutch three to get within three points. UMC would get back up by 70-65 with over a minute left, but two free throws from Stark would get within 70-68. UMC would counter with a Smith lay-up to make it 72-68. Yet again though the Saints came up in a clutch situation with a Deadrick three to make it 72-71.
Gamble would hit a pair of free throws to get the lead back out to 74-71. But the Saints again came through as Newman found Johnson for the trey with three seconds left in regulation to force overtime 74-74.
UMC would be able to control the majority of the overtime period and come through with clutch free throws to take the game 85-80. The Golden Eagles were led in the extra period by four points apiece from Cleary and Critchley.
