Collegeville, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's basketball team dropped to 2-2 on the season with a 84-79 loss at 25th-ranked Saint John's University (Minn.) Tuesday night in Sexton Arena. The Johnnies, ranked 25th on D3hoops.com, improve to 3-1 on the year.
Saint John's (Minn.) never trailed in Tuesday's win, scoring the first seven points of the game. The Johnnies led 30-25 with 5:08 left in the first half when they used a 12-0 run to lead 42-25 with 2:47 remaining after a Oakley Baker layup. The Eagles cut the margin to 42-34 with 1:07 left in the opening half before the Johnnies scored the final four points to lead, 46-34.
A pair of Ethan Novacinski free throws gave Saint John's (Minn.) a 62-47 advantage with 13:59 remaining in the game. The Johnnies later led, 77-67, with 4:55 left when the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 77-73 with 2:57 remaining after
Taulvish McCray's layup. UWL cut it to 79-76 with 1:52 left on
Colton Homan's three-point play, but the Eagles could get no closer the rest of the game. Zach Hanson scored four straight points for Saint John's (Minn.) to make it 83-76 with :50 remaining.
UWL shot 44.8% from the field, including 26.3% (five-of-19) from three-point range, and 70.0% (14-of-20) at the free throw line.
McCray led the Eagles with 20 points, going eight-of-13 from the field, including three-of-six from three-point range. He was one-of-two at the line.
Ben Meinholz finished with 15 points while
Jack Kortes and
Josh Dahlke each finished with eight points.
Brendon Manning had a team-high seven rebounds.
Saint John's (Minn.) shot 56.8% from the field, including 42.9% (nine-of-21) from three-point range, and 75.8% (25-of-33) at the line. The Johnnies shot 72.7% (16-of-22) from the field in the first half, including 66.7% (six-of-nine) from three-point range.
David Stokman led four players in double figures with 22 points while Lucas Walford had 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Stokman added a game-high six assists. Hanson and Baker each scored 14 points.
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 24 at Bethel University (Minn.) at 3 p.m.
