SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls would use eight second-half threes to lead a big run to defeat the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team 73-60. The Golden Eagles had the deficit down to one early in the second half, but Sioux Falls would go on a 33-21 run from there to come away with the win.

Sioux Falls improves to 14-9 (9-8 NSIC) with the win, while Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-18 (1-16 NSIC) with Friday's loss.

"I liked the effort from our guys overall but we can't give up a run like we did in the second half and that is the difference," said Head Coach Dan Weisse. "I thought we did some good things and showed some improvement in the post from Nate Lorenz and Jim Warmack, but we have to continue to get better. We are still learning how to play in this league."

UMC was led by 16 points from Derrick Redd, Jr. (Sr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management), who was 4-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe. Kobe Critchley (Fr., G, Roseville, Minn./Health Sciences) added 14 points, five boards and four rebounds. C.J. Polk (So., G, Milwaukee, Wis./Business Management) finished with 14.

The Golden Eagles were 20-of-55 for 36.4 percent from the field. They shot well in the second half, going 12-of-26 for 46.2 percent. UMC was 7-of-19 for 36.8 percent from beyond the arc. They had one of their best free throw shooting nights of the season, going 13-of-14 for 92.9 percent.

Sioux Falls out-rebounded UMC 39-31. The Cougars had 11 three-points on the evening led by five from Drew Guebert, who led USF with 23 points on 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. Mack Johnson added 21 points on 7-of-14 from the field, while Daniel Hurtt came off the bench for 16 points.

Sioux Falls was 26-of-60 for 43.3 percent from the field and 11-of-23 for 47.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Cougars were 10-of-11 for 90.9 percent from the charity stripe.

The Golden Eagles limited Sioux Falls in the first half and were down just 29-24 at the break. UMC was led by a strong first half from Redd, who had 10 points on 2-of-4 from the field, including two treys. He was 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Critchley added five points and two assists in the first half.

UMC was 8-of-29 for 27.6 percent from the field. In addition, they went 4-of-12 for 33.3 percent from beyond the arc and were an unblemished 4-of-4 for 100 percent from the charity stripe.

Sioux Falls was led by 11 points off the bench from Daniel Hurtt on 5-of-9 from the field. Drew Guebert added five points. The Cougars were 12-of-32 for 37.5 percent from the field, but just 3-of-11 for 27.3 percent from beyond the arc and 2-of-3 for 66.7 percent from the charity stripe.

Sioux Falls would get out to an early 9-2 lead on a Clint Thomas three. The Golden Eagles would hang with the Cougars from there and would cut the deficit to 22-21 on a Critchley lay-up. Sioux Falls would close out the half with lay-ups from Tom Aase and Hurtt to go into the break up 29-24.

The Golden Eagles would open the second half as Polk got the lane and got a lay-up but Mack Johnson responded with a quick bucket of his own to make it 31-26. The Cougars would extend the lead to 33-26 on a pair of free throws. USF would get the lead out to 35-28, but the Golden Eagles would cut into the lead with a Critchley lay-up and Polk jumper to get within 35-32 with 16:23 left in the game. A pair of free throws for Johnson would push the lead back out to 37-32.

UMC would be able to cut the deficit back down three as Polk hit a pair of free throws to make it a three-point lead for the Cougars (37-34). After a Warmack steal, Critchley would go to the line for his ninth point of the game to cut the lead to 37-36 with 14:30 remaining. A Guebert three for Sioux Falls would stop the run for UMC as it pushed the Sioux Falls lead to 40-36. However, Redd would come up big on the other end for the Golden Eagles as he made the lay-up and converted the old-fashioned three-point play to cut UMC back within 40-39.

However, Guebert would one again hit the same shot from beyond the arc to push the lead back out to 43-39 and a Mack Johnson bucket would push it out even further to 45-39 as he made it a 5-0 run for the Cougars. Polk would stop their mini-run, getting the lucky bounce on a three to get UMC within 45-42.

The Cougars would again go on a run with a Guebert three and a Kebu Johnson lay-up to make it 50-42 with 10:54 left in the game.  USF would make it a 13-0 run with a pair of Mack Johnson threes to make it 58-42. UMC would stop the run with a pair of Nate Lorenz (Fr., F, Breckenridge, Minn./Health Sciences) free throws, but Johnson would hit another three to make it 61-44. USF would be able to extend their lead to 66-47.



UMC would finally respond with a three from Polk and an old-fashioned three-point play from A.J. Walton (R-Fr., G/F, Oak Hills, Calif./Business) to cut the lead to 66-53. Sioux Falls would get the lead back out to 70-53 with a pair of free throws from Mack Johnson.

The Golden Eagles would cut into the lead as Jim Warmack (So., F/C, East Grand Forks, Minn./Business) hit a lay-up to cut the lead to 70-56. A pair of Critchley free throws would get UMC within 12 (70-58) with 2:05 remaining. Despite UMC's efforts, Sioux Falls would hang on for a 73-60 win over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action as they face Southwest Minnesota State University Sat., Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at the R/A Facility in Marshall, 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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