SUPERIOR, Wis. – Freshman
Mason Ackley (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) scored a career-high 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked the four shots as the UW-Superior men's basketball team stayed perfect in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference with a 72-58 victory over St. Scholastica Wednesday.
The win for UWS is the first against the Saints since Nov. 30, 2014, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the series, and is also the first-ever in UMAC play against CSS. UWS is now 28-19 since the 1990-91 season against its bridge rival.
The Yellowjackets shot nearly 54 percent in the first half, making 14 of their 26 shots to take a 38-30 advantage at halftime.
Seniors
Vid Milenkovic (Zurich, Switzerland/DSB Belgrade (Serbia)) and
Allen Anderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) also scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively for Superior (5-4, 3-0 UMAC).
The 'Jackets jumped out to a 15-4 advantage in the first six minutes as five different players got into the scoring column, led by
Mac Reykdal (Washburn, Wis./Washburn) with five. The lead grew to 27-13 on a
Colton Williams (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) layup with 8:34 to play in the first half that forced a St. Scholastica timeout.
The Saints shaved the deficit to 34-28 with 1:34 left in the half on a pair of Cade Goggleye free throws.
Ackley made it 47-34 with seven minutes gone in the second half when he stripped a CSS player and went the other way for a layup. Ackley was fouled on the play, but missed the ensuing free throw. He then scored four straight points on a jumper and two free throws to push the lead to 54-38 with 11 minutes remaining.
Joe Kramer (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) gave UWS its largest lead of the night on an offensive rebound and putback for a 60-42 edge at the 8:43 mark.
St. Scholastica (3-6, 2-1) whittled the lead to 10 as Nick Carlson drained a 3-pointer with 4:50 to play, but that was as close as the Saints got.
UWS finished shooting 46 percent from the floor and won the glass, 39-36, with 12 offensive boards. The 'Jackets forced 22 turnovers, converting them into 24 points.
Jarod Wilken paced the Saints in the loss, scoring 17 points. Jack Silgen pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
UWS next hosts Bethany Lutheran Saturday at 3 p.m.
