University of Minnesota Crookston Athletics

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The 22nd-ranked St. Cloud State University outscored the University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team 50-23 in the second half to earn an 81-55 win in the season opener Monday, November 9 at Gary Senske Court at Lysaker Gymnasium.

The Golden Eagles held the game close in the early going, leading at the half 32-31 over the defending NSIC Champions. However, the Huskies were able to put separation in the second stanza to claim the win.

Minnesota Crookston opens the season with an 0-1 mark, while St. Cloud State begins the season with a 1-0 record. The tilt Monday was a non-conference game between the two sides. 

The Golden Eagles shot 20-of-61 for 32.8 percent from the field. Minnesota Crookston shot 36.7 percent in the opening stanza. The Golden Eagles finished the game 8-of-22 for 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. They relied on the three early in the tilt, going 6-of-12 for 50.0 percent in the first frame. Minnesota Crookston went 7-of-8 for 87.5 percent from the stripe. They were outrebounded 42-32, with each team corralling 12 offensive boards. Minnesota Crookston committed 18 turnovers, while the Huskies had 15.

The Golden Eagles were paced by Spencer Swenson (So., F, Sauk Rapids, Minn.), who went 5-of-10 from the field for 15 points, and eight boards. Donez Lindsey (So., G, Stockton, Calif.) chipped in 10 points. J.D. Roberts (Jr., G/F, Parkville, Mo.) came off the bench for nine points on 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Brady Westphal (So., G, West Fargo, N.D.) went 2-of-3 from deep for six points. Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Sr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) grabbed six boards.

St. Cloud State went 31-of-62 for 50.0 percent from the field. The Huskies were 8-of-20 for 40.0 percent from distance, and 11-of-14 for 78.6 percent from the foul line. St. Cloud State caught fire from the field in the second half, hitting 20-of-32 for 62.5 percent. They were 6-of-10 from distance in the second half.

The Huskies were guided by 17 points from Anish Ramlall on 4-of-8 from the field, and 3-of-4 from distance. Azayah Washington finished with 16 points on 7-of-9 from the field. Bob Griechen came off the bench for 13 points and 10 boards. Nate Dahl added 10 points off the bench. Wyatt Hawks contributed six points, five boards, and five blocked shots.

The Golden Eagles were knotted up early with the Huskies 5-5 after a Swenson bucket. The Huskies responded with a 6-0 run, as a pair of Ramlall free throws put St. Cloud State ahead 11-5. A Roberts trey cut the deficit to 11-8. St. Cloud State responded with an 8-2 run, as another pair of Ramlall free throws put the Huskies ahead 19-10. Minnesota Crookston replied in a major way, as an 8-0 run paced by a pair of Roberts triples trimmed the deficit to 19-18 with 7:57 remaining in the first half. St. Cloud State fought back with a 7-0 run using a Washington bucket to go ahead 26-18. Minnesota Crookston countered again, led by a pair of Westphal treys to ignite a 10-0 run putting the Golden Eagles ahead 28-26 with 3:27 left in the half. Minnesota Crookston held the 32-31 edge going into the break after a pair of Swenson free throws.

St. Cloud State opened the second half with a 4-0 run, as a pair of Kynan Phillippe free throws made it 35-32 Huskies. The Golden Eagles held a 39-37 advantage after a bucket from Swenson with 16:26 remaining in the second section. A 5-0 run by St. Cloud State led by a Washington trey made it 42-39. A free throw from Mukoma, Jr., trimmed it to 42-40. In the next two minutes the Huskies utilized a 7-2 run to make it 51-42. A Swenson tip-in cut the lead to 51-44. The Golden Eagles would come within five points (52-47) as Roberts found Lindsey for the trey with 11:41 left in the tilt. 

From there, the Huskies took the game over countering with an 18-2 run paced by eight points from Ramlall to give the visitors from the Granite City a 70-49 lead. Minnesota Crookston was unable to convert a field goal for over six minutes. St. Cloud State held the momentum to earn an 81-55 win.

Minnesota Crookston hits the road for the Sooner State, as they take on the University of Central Oklahoma Friday, November 13 at 7:30 p.m. They will also take on Northwestern Oklahoma State University Saturday, November 14 at 5:30 p.m., during their Oklahoma excursion.