Duluth, Minn. – Division III transfer
Andrew Stokes (Jr., F, Westchester, Ill.) scored a career-high 15 points off the bench and
Micah Garrett (Jr., G, Portland, Ore.) scored big buckets down the stretch to propel Minnesota Crookston to a win on Saturday against East Central, 65-59.
With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 1-1 on the young season.
It would be a slow start for both teams on the offensive side of the ball, but the Golden Eagles would strike first with a
Jordan Mitchell (R-Sr., F, Columbus, Ohio) layup.
The Tigers would take a 12-7 lead, midway through the first half, but the Golden Eagles would go on a 6-0 run, helped by
Reid Grant (Sr., G, Johnston, Iowa), who scored four of the six during the run.
Late in the first half, ECU would take their largest lead of the game at seven, following a Mason Jones three, but
Ben Hoverson (Sr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would answer with his first three of the season.
Chandler Meeks (R-So., G, Omaha, Neb.) would score six straight points to book-end a 13-3 run to end the half, as the Golden Eagles would lead 30-27, heading into the halftime break.
In a reversal of yesterday's game against Oklahoma Baptist, the Golden Eagles would start the second half strong.
Garrett would start off the second half scoring with a lay-in and
Aguek Deng (R-Sr., F, Des Moines, Iowa) would score three straight points for a 35-28 lead. Garrett would get the run to 8-0, following a three, giving the Golden Eagles a double-digit lead.
The Tigers would answer back and eventually tie the game up at 41, but Stokes would answer back with a tough finish in the paint.
Leading by a point at 46-45, the Golden Eagles would start to assert themselves with back-to-back long balls from Garrett and Grant, giving the Golden Eagles a 54-45 lead with 7:52 left in the game.
The Golden Eagles would get their lead to 10 at 62-52 following another Stokes layup and the Golden Eagles would close out the game with great defense and free throw makes for the 65-59 win.
Stokes was outstanding, finishing with 15 points, on 6-8 shooting from the field, while also pulling down five rebounds. Garrett added 14 points and six rebounds, while Meeks finished with 13 points and three rebounds. Grant added nine points and seven assists, while Deng finished with seven points and a career-high 18 rebounds, just five rebounds from a school record.
Minnesota Crookston shot 39.3 percent from the field and 30.4 percent from deep. The Golden Eagles outrebounded the Tigers, 48-40.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will have their home opener next Saturday, as they welcome in Parkside in another non-conference tilt. Tip-off is set for 11 A.M., from Lysaker Gymnasium.
