Crookston, Minn. -- Fantastic freshman Spencer Swenson finished with a career-high 31 points and 13 rebounds, which tied a career-high, helping Minnesota Crookston to a wire-to-wire win over UMary on Saturday night, 71-66.
The Golden Eagles finished a weekend conference sweep for the first time of the season and improve to 6-20.
Minnesota Crookston would get off to a fantastic start, as Swenson and Alijah Washington (R-Jr., G, San Jose, Calif.) would each bury a jumper for an early four point lead.
Later in the half, the Golden Eagles would take a 17-9 lead following a layup by Owen Chervestad (Fr., G, Oklee, Minn.) and Caiden Swenby (So., G, Fertile, Minn.), as the local products would chip in early offensively.
UMary would get within seven at 21-14, but three straight threes from GD Deng (Sr., G, Des Moines, Iowa) and Washington would stretch the lead up to 16 at 30-14.
UMary would answer with a pair of threes, but the Golden Eagles would use their big men, Kazadi Mukoma, Jr. (Jr., F, Grand Island, Neb.) and Brayden Carlson (So., C, Woodbury, Minn.) to stretch the lead back to 15.
J.D. Roberts (Jr., F, Parkville, Mo.) would finish a pair of tough layups at the end of the first half, as the Golden Eagles would lead by 10 following the first 20 minutes.
It would be a much slower offensive pace for both teams in the second half.
Swenby would drill another corner three and Swenson would finish a layup on a back cut to help the Golden Eagles take a 50-40 lead.
With seven minutes left in the game, Swenson and Chervestad would finish a pair of layups to help the Golden Eagles extend their lead to 18, their largest of the game.
Trailing 63-48, the Marauders would come roaring back and go on a 12-0 run to cut the lead to 63-60, but the Golden Eagles had the best player on the floor on Saturday night and would go to the freshman Swenson multiple times down the stretch, scoring seven of the last eight points for the Golden Eagles in the five point game.
Swenson's weekend puts him squarely in the running for NSIC Player of the Week, as he averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds in a pair of wins. Roberts finished with nine points off the bench, while Washington scored eight points. Swenby finished with seven points off the bench. Minnesota Crookston outrebounded the Marauders by four and shot 11 more free throws than UMary.
Today was Senior Day for the Golden Eagles, who celebrated three seniors: Deng, Cuinn Berger (Sr., G, Esko, Minn.) and Chandler Meeks (Sr., G, Omaha, Neb.). Berger earned his first career start.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will close out the home portion of their schedule on Wednesday night when they welcome in Minnesota Duluth for a 7:30 tip.
