North Central 74, UW-Superior 71
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 13, 2018) – The Yellowjackets were down at halftime and were able to climb back in the second half, but the Rams were able to hold on late. Colton Williams (Columbia Heights, Minn. /Columbia Heights) scored a career-high 24 points.
It was a rough go in the first half for Superior; Vid Milenkovic (Zurich, Switzerland/DSB Belgrade, Serbia) scored the first basket, followed by Williams' layup at 16:16 of the first half. North Central jumped out to a 12-6 lead at 15:28, but Shaq Coleman (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) cut it to a four-point game with two free throws just 30 seconds later.
The teams saw a scoreless drought for a five-minute stretch midway through the period. Nate Kalien (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls) broke the silence around nine minutes, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 25-16 score, in favor of the Rams. They soon found a bigger lead, 15 points, late in the period, Williams and Mac Reykdal (Washburn, Wis./Washburn) hitting baskets, but the Rams held their lead 48-31 at the half.
Milenkovic drained a layup to open the third period, followed by a Williams three for five quick points to make it a 12-point game. A Reykdal three would spark a run around 14:50; the 'Jackets would go 11-0 on North Central in a five-minute span to make it 58-54, Rams.
Coleman hit a layup, and Montroy Scott (Fridley, Minn./Columbia Heights) drained a Coleman assist three to make it 60-59 Rams. Superior kept hitting shots late, but the Rams were able to answer back. Milenkovic found the first lead of the game for Superior on a layup at 6:02, and then Coleman found it again at 4:39 after an and-one layup; but these would be the final points of the game for the 'Jackets. North Central would score seven straight to win.
Williams tacked on five rebounds, five steals, and two assists to his 24 points. Coleman and Kalien had 13 and 12 points respectively, while Milenkovic had nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The Rams had four players in double figures.
The Yellowjackets will have a week off before head make the trip to Minnesota Morris next Saturday, Jan. 20.
