CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team fell 86-69 Thursday, November 18 to Northern Michigan University at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium. Northern Michigan out-scored UMN Crookston 45-27 in the first half. Northern Michigan dominated in the points off turnover department with 32. They also had 17 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds and had 17 fast-break points.
The Golden Eagles fall to 1-2 on the season after dropping their home regular-season opener. Northern Michigan improved to 2-1 with Thursday's win.
Minnesota Crookston was guided for the evening by the play of
Brian Sitzmann (R-Sr., G, Savage, Minn.), who had 22 points on 7-of-11 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc, and 6-of-7 from the foul line.
Uzo Dibiamaka (R-So., G, Adelaide, South Australia) notched 14 points and seven rebounds.
Ethan Channel (R-Jr., G, Beaverton, Ore.) added eight points.
Zen Goodridge (R-Jr., F/C, Orlando, Fla.) added eight points and eight boards.
Nathaniel Powell (R-So., F/C, Nottingham, England) chipped in seven points.
Northern Michigan was led by Bemidji State University transfer Max Bjorklund, who had 29 points on 9-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. John Kerr added 16 points and eight boards. Brian Parzych chipped in 10 points, while Sam Schultz came off the bench for 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles won the rebounding edge 34-33. Minnesota Crookston struggled to hold on to the ball as they had 22 turnovers and just six assists. The Wildcats had 20 assists and 11 turnovers.
UMN Crookston trailed just 8-7 at the 12:58 mark of the first half after a Dibiamaka jumper. Northern Michigan responded with a 17-3 run propelled by eight points from Bjorklund. The rally put the Wildcats ahead 25-10. Northern Michigan would use the momentum to go into the locker room with a 45-27 advantage.
Northern Michigan came out of the half and went on a 9-2 run lifted by five points from Bjorklund to extend the lead to 54-29. Minnesota Crookston sliced into the lead as they utilized a 16-4 run led by six points from Sitzmann as they trimmed the deficit to 58-45. Northern Michigan countered with triples from Bjorklund and Justin Kuehl to widen the gap to 19 at 64-45. The Golden Eagles would get the lead back down to 13 (70-57) on a Channel trey with 6:04 remaining. However, Northern Michigan was able to fend off the charge late and pick up an 86-69 win.
Minnesota Crookston won the second half 42-41, but they put themselves in the 18-point hole in the first half. In addition, the Golden Eagles shot 13-of-25 in the second half for 52.0 percent. UMN Crookston finished the game 22-of-48 from the field for 45.8 percent. Northern Michigan shot 30-of-68 from the field for 44.1 percent. The Wildcats were 9-of-19 from beyond the arc for 47.4 percent.
The Golden Eagles continue a three-game home stand as they host Michigan Tech University Saturday, November 20 at 2 p.m. at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.
