CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team will open up their 2017-18 home slate Tues., Nov. 14 at Lysaker Gymnasium against Oak Hills Christian College at 7 p.m.
Minnesota Crookston enters the week with a 0-2 mark despite playing two very competitive games against the Great America Conference's (GAC) top two teams as picked in the preseason. The Golden Eagles led Arkansas Tech University for 31 of 40 minutes on Friday and were up 94-92 with 6:49 remaining. However, the Wonder Boys used a 22-11 run at the end of the game to capture the 114-105 win. Saturday, the Golden Eagles led late 50-48 with 8:31 left over University of Arkansas-Monticello. The Boll Weevils ended the game on a 23-14 run to capture a 71-64 win.
The Golden Eagles will look to build off their games against two NCAA participants last season. Minnesota Crookston looked to reining NSIC Freshman of the Year Harrison Cleary (So., G, Oak Creek, Wis.), who notched 21.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Cleary shot 41.0 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc. Alan Hodge (Jr., G, Dallas, Texas) complemented Cleary in his first weekend with the Golden Eagles. Hodge notched 21.0 points per game and shot 48.4 percent from the field and 35.7 percent from beyond the arc.
In addition, Chase Knickerbocker (Jr., G/F, Annandale, Minn.) had a strong debut with 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Knickerbocker shot 48.0 percent from the field on the weekend. Ben Juhl (Fr., Clive, Iowa) was an impact player off the bench with 12.5 points. He shot 58.8 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Minnesota Crookston shot 65-of-132 for the weekend for 49.2 percent. They were 17-of-48 from beyond the arc for 35.4 percent. The Golden Eagles notched 84.5 points per game. They will look to improve their defense as they gave up 92.5 points per game to last weekend's high-octane offenses.
Oak Hills Christian at Minnesota Crookston
Tues., Nov. 14 – 7 p.m. – Lysaker Gymnasium
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/mbball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/crk/#liveEventsTab
Projected Starters
Minnesota Crookston
So. PG 0 Harrison Cleary (6-1 180, Oak Creek, Wis.)
Jr. SG 1 Alan Hodge, Jr. (6-0 191, Dallas, Texas)
Jr. 3G 25 Chase Knickerbocker (6-7 193, Annandale, Minn.)
R-Jr. SF 24 Gable Smith (6-7 211, Lodi, Wis.)
So. PF 21 Chase Johnson (6-8 240, La Crosse, Wis.)
Oak Hills Christian
So. G 33 Duke Abalos (5-9, Odessa, Texas)
Fr. G 40 Phillip Harris (6-0, Memphis, Tenn.)
So. G 44 Ronnie Jackson (6-1, Seward, Alaska)
So. 24 Ezekiel Cook (6-3, Los Angeles, Calif.)
Jr. F 21 Blake Dragt (6-6, Castlewood, S.D.)
Oak Hills Christian College is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The Wolfpack competes in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC). Oak Hills Christian College comes in with an 0-2 mark after falling to Dakota State University and Presentation College.
The Wolfpack is averaging 70.0 points per game, while giving up 97.5 points per game. The shot 37.4 percent from the field and just 25.0 percent from beyond the arc. Oak Hills Christian looks to 6-3 sophomore Ezekiel Cook, who is averaging 14.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Cook is shooting 40.0 percent from the field. In addition, 5-9 guard Duke Abalos comes in averaging 14.0 points, while Jaren Brooks is coming off bench for 13.0 points per contest. Brooks is shooting 62.5 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. Their biggest presence inside is Blake Dragt at 6-6. He is averaging 4.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
