UW-Superior 73, Martin Luther 70

SUPERIOR, Wis. (December 16, 2017) – The Yellowjackets won their first conference contest of the season Saturday afternoon, both teams traded leads, but the Yellowjackets were victorious. Colton Williams (Columbia Heights, Minn. /Columbia Heights) led the 'Jackets with 21 points.

Williams had the first two points at 19:06 for the 'Jackets, scoring on a layup. The teams would trade leads and baskets; Superior got a 13-11 lead on another lay-in, and then 16-14 on a layup from Vid Milenkovic (Zurich, Switzerland/DSB Belgrade, Serbia). Andrew McGill (St. Germain, Wis./Lakeland Union) would get in the mix just minutes later, hitting back-to-back free throws after getting the offensive rebound. Mac Reykdal (Washburn, Wis./Washburn), who started the game for Superior, would hit a three at 8:38 on the fast break after Williams stole the ball from the Knights. The lead continued for the 'Jackets as Nate Kalien (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls) hit the 2-point jumper coming off a screen, propelling the lead to 31-26. The Knights pushed back in the final minutes of the first half, but a Shaq Coleman (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) jumper in the final 10 seconds secured a 36-33 lead at the half.

 The Knights would get a small lead in the first five mintues of the second half, at 44-43, but Milenkovic soon found another layup after an offensive board. Both teams continued to fight, tying the game, and changing lead for a solid seven minutes, but Coleman would knock down two free throws to get a 66-64 lead at 6:53 remaining. The Knights found a way to tie at 70-70 with 1:16 remaining in the game, but free throws again from Coleman, and one from Williams would secure a UMAC victory for the Yellowjackets.

The 'Jackets had three players in double figures: Williams with 21 and four rebounds, Coleman finding his average at 18 points and six boards, while Milenkovic had 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Reykdal had eight points in his first start of the season.

Superior shot the ball well from all spots on the court, hitting 44 percent from 3-point range, and 57 percent overall. They also were dominate on the boards, getting 32 rebounds compared to the Knights 22.

Ian Paulsen scored a game-high 30 points for the Knights.

The Yellowjackets will be on break for almost three weeks, and then will resume play Dec. 29 as they take on St. John's on the road in Collegeville, Minn.