The University of Wisconsin Superior buckled down defensively in the second half while continuing to show a hot hand on offense as the Yellowjackets came back from an 11-point first-half deficit to knock off Crown College 84-74 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon.

The victory marked two straight, the first winning streak of the season for UW-Superior (4-12, 3-5 UMAC) and moved the Yellowjackets ahead of Crown (4-11, 3-5 UMAC) in the conference standings as they try to make a second-half push in the league. Sophomore guard Montroy Scott (Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights H.S.) led the way with 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half, while freshman forward Rafael Monteiro (São Paulo, Brazil/Santa Marcelina College) had 17 points and 17 rebounds, scoring 13 points and and grabbing 12 boards in the final 20-minute frame.

The Storm led by 11 points at 45-34 with 1:18 remaining in the first half, and the Yellowjackets opened the second half with seven-straight points after trailing 47-38 at the half. Junior guard Shaq Coleman (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East H.S.) laid-in a pair of scores to help UWS hang around as Crown got a three-pointer to keep them at bay. Eventually, Coleman would score the go-ahead score off a missed three, giving the Yellowjackets a 55-54 edge to cap off an 21-9 run. The two teams would trade the lead 10 times, but UW-Superior pulled away late, holding the Storm without a score from the floor for the final 1:18.

Junior Austin VanDerHeyden had a game-high 22 points for Crown, while grabbing nine rebounds to lead the Storm. Crown shot 40.6 percent in the game and 29.0 percent in the second half. The Yellowjackets shot 44.3 percent in the match-up and 43.3 percent in the second half. UWS scoring 26 points and the free throw line, including an 18-of-23 showing in the second half.

UP NEXT
UW-Superior will remain at home next week as North Central University visits Mortorelli Gym for another UMAC match-up. Opening tip between the Yellowjackets and Rams is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's contest.