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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Brian Lindblom
Jade Jensen

Men's Basketball

Foul Trouble Sinks Yellowjackets

Brian Lindblom scored 25 points to lead the Yellowjackets Friday at Bethany Lutheran.
Box Score

Bethany Lutheran 92, Yellowjackets 80

Tuesday night the Yellowjacket men's basketball team concluded a rugged non-conference start to the season by picking up its first win of the 2015-16 campaign over former WIAC foe UW-Stout. Friday, they hoped to win back-to-back games and earn the first UMAC win in school history on the road at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn.

The Vikings were anything but gracious hosts.

Bethany Lutheran used a big second half, and coupled with the Yellowjackets' inability to stay out of foul trouble gave the visitors a rude welcome to their new conference. The Vikings shot nearly 58 percent in the second half and made 25-of-32 free throws to down the Yellowjackets 92-80.

The Yellowjackets were called for 19 fouls in the second half and had three players, including stalwarts Zach Schradle (Clayton, Wis./Clayton) and Brian Lindblom (Spooner, Wis./Spooner) foul out as the Vikings pulled away in the final 20 minutes.

The Yellowjackets fell behind early, trailing by as many as seven in the first four minutes, but battled their way back to tie the score. A Lindblom jumper completed the comeback as the Yellowjackets took a one-point lead at 11-10. The teams traded baskets and the lead before the Yellowjackets built a small cushion, moving ahead 25-20 with 9:25 to play in the half following a pair of free throws by Montroy Scott (Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights).

Bethany Lutheran chipped away at the lead and eventually pulled even at 29-29 with six minutes remaining in the first half.

Neither team would build more than a two-point lead the rest of the way and the teams went to the locker room tied 35-35 at the half.

Just under four minutes into the second half Lindblom hit another jumper to put the Yellowjackets ahead by four. Nate Kalien (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls) followed with a bucket a minute later to push the lead to six, 47-41. That's as big a lead as the Yellowjackets would have after halftime. From there the fouls caught up to the Yellowjackets and the Vikings took advantage.

The teams traded points, and leads, several times in the half. A Brady Rose free throw broke a 67-67 tie and it was all Vikings the rest of the way. The game was still within reach for the Yellowjackets, as they trailed 75-71 with 4:14 to play, but a 12-4 run helped the Vikings pull away and earn the conference victory.

Lindblom, despite fouling out led the Yellowjackets with 25 points. He also grabbed eight rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. Schradle, coming off a monster outing against UW-Stout, finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Kalien scored a career-high 17 points in 30 minutes. Andreas Preisler (Solrod, Denmark/Solrod Gymnasium) also scored a career-high 11 points before fouling out.

Brandyn Frelix scored a game-high 29 points to lead the Vikings.

The Yellowjackets (1-4, 0-1 UMAC) will be at Martin Luther College Saturday afternoon. Game time from New Ulm, Minnesota is set for 3:00 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Nate Kalien

#12 Nate Kalien

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Brian Lindblom

#33 Brian Lindblom

F
6' 6"
Senior
Andreas Preisler

#35 Andreas Preisler

F
6' 6"
Sophomore
Zach Schradle

#24 Zach Schradle

G
6' 5"
Junior
Montroy Scott

#2 Montroy Scott

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Nate Kalien

#12 Nate Kalien

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Brian Lindblom

#33 Brian Lindblom

6' 6"
Senior
F
Andreas Preisler

#35 Andreas Preisler

6' 6"
Sophomore
F
Zach Schradle

#24 Zach Schradle

6' 5"
Junior
G
Montroy Scott

#2 Montroy Scott

6' 2"
Freshman
G