University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

Edmond, Okla. -- Minnesota Crookston concluded their second straight trip to Oklahoma on Saturday night for a date with Northwestern Oklahoma State, who was also looking for their first win of the season.

The game would feature an overtime, where the Rangers would end the game on a 9-2 run to win their first game of the season, 84-80.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-3 on the very young season.

The Golden Eagles would take an early 3-1 lead after Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Sr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) would bury a left corner three.

NWOSU would tie the score at three, but back-to-back buckets from Mukoma, Jr., and Alijah Washington (5th, G, San Jose, Calif.) would give the Golden Eagles a four point lead.

The Golden Eagles would stretch that lead out to seven after a three from Quincy Everson (So., G, Goodyear, Ariz.) and a floater from Donez Lindsey (So., G, Stockton, Calif.).

The game would be tied at 18 in the first half, but a 5-0 run from the Golden Eagles would regain a five point lead.

That lead would quickly evaporate, as NWOSU would score 10 in a row before a Jake Williams (Jr., F, Sacramento, Calif.) dunk would cut the Ranger lead back to three.

Spencer Swenson (So., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) would fuel a late 9-0 near the end of the half, as the Golden Eagles would lead by a basket heading into the halftime break.

The Golden Eagles were balanced in the first half, led by eight from Lindsey and seven from Mukoma, Jr., and Everson. Swenson added six first half points. 

The second half would start back-and-forth, but the Rangers would take a 45-42 lead. Owen Chervestad (So., G, Oklee, Minn.) would connect on a corner three to tie the game yet again.

Later, Minnesota Crookston would trail by three again, but Roberts would finish a layup and J.D. Roberts (Jr., F, Parkville, Mo.) would bury a wing three to regain a two point lead at 54 all.

Up by six, the Golden Eagles would see the game change as Swenson came down awkwardly and would not return.

NWOSU would go on another large run and take a 67-66 lead, but Washington would finish a tough layup to regain the lead.

NWOSU would take a lead at 69-68, but a pair of free throws from Mukoma, Jr., would give the maroon and gold a lead with under a minute left.

A good defensive possession would unfortunately end in a three from the Rangers and they would take a two point lead.

Lindsey would tie the game at 72 and a tough call would go against the Golden Eagles, but NWOSU would miss the front end of a one-and-one and we would head to overtime.

In the overtime, the Golden Eagles would take a three point lead after a Mukoma, Jr., layup, but the Rangers would end the game on another large run to win the game by four.
 

Before having to lead the game, Swenson finished with 17 points, including 11 in the second half, while pulling down four rebounds. Mukoma, Jr., finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while Lindsey added 14. Williams finished with a career-high eight points in 25 minutes. Chervestad ended the night with a career-high 12 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles shot better than the Rangers, made two more threes than the Rangers, outrebounded the Rangers by seven, but turned it over 16 times which turned into 20 Ranger points.

The Golden Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday night when they welcome in Valley City State for a Tuesday tip of 7 PM.