SUPERIOR, Wis. –Three UW-Superior men's basketball players scored double figures as the Yellowjackets coasted to a 97-52 victory over Finlandia in the opening round of the 11th-annual Merrill Thompson Classic at Mertz Mortorelli Gym on Friday.
 
UWS shot 51.3 percent from the field, including nearly 60 percent in the second half, while leading wire-to-wire. Sophomore J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) led Superior with game highs of 19 points, nine assists and five steals. Eli Vogel (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) added 18 points and Josh Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) chipped in with 11 points.
 
Superior scored 11 consecutive points to open a 15-2 advantage at the 15:27 mark and led, 46-26, at the half. UWS exploded for 51 points in the second half to win going away. The 'Jackets face Saint John's on the second day of the tournament at 3 p.m. The Johnnies were 85-67 winners over UW-River Falls in the first game of the day.
 
The 'Jackets limited Finlandia to 31 percent shooting and forced 22 turnovers while outrebounding the Lions, 41-40.