St. John's 89, UW-Superior 67
COLLEGVILLE, Minn. (December 29, 2017) – The 'Jackets matched up with a tough No. 17 St. John's team Friday night, their first game-action in about two weeks, falling to the Johnnies in the second half.
Colton Williams (Columbia Heights, Minn. /Columbia Heights) found the first basket for the Yellowjackets, scoring on a layup. Vid Milenkovic (Zurich, Switzerland/DSB Belgrade, Serbia) would then hit a 3-pointer on the next trip down the hardwood to tie the game at five. The Johnnies soon found the hot hand, opening up the game, going up 16-9 until Mac Reykdal (Washburn, Wis./Washburn) found the bottom of the net on a 3-pointer, assisted by Williams. St. John's then went on a run until Milenkovic hit his second three, assisted by Shaq Coleman (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East), making it a 27-15 game in favor of the Johnnies.
Coleman would add a 3-pointer at the 9:22 mark to get within 10, and then Montroy Scott (Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights) would score three straight baskets for the 'Jackets, hitting his signature 2-point jumper and two free throws. Williams would add two free throws of his own, and these would end the half, the Yellowjackets down 48-34.
Superior didn't stop putting up buckets against the ranked Johnnies, chipping away until Coleman got the Johnnie lead to 12, scoring two points from mid-range. Williams would then capitalize on the and-one opportunity at 15:10, draining the hard-fought layup and the free throw, as the 'Jackets continued to spread baskets around. The Johnnies proved to solid on defense, containing Superior on one end, and scoring on the other, stretching their lead.
The Yellowjackets continued to fight, hitting on more free throws, and a 3-pointer from Joseph Kramer (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) to get within 20, but St. John's proved to be too strong, winning 89-67.
Williams was the leading scorer for Superior, getting 17, including 6-of-7 free throws. Milenkovic would score 12 and get close to a double-double with nine boards, while Coleman had 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
The 'Jackets will return home tomorrow for another MIAC matchup, taking on Bethel at 7 p.m. in the Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
