LAS VEGAS – For the second time in the history of the program, the Yellowjacket men's basketball team went west, competing in the d3hoops.com Classic. The 'Jackets were supposed to play in the 2020 event, but with that tournament shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their plans were adjusted by a year.
 
Tuesday evening the Yellowjackets took to the court against a familiar opponent. Familiar not because they play each other often, but more because it hails from the same time zone. The 'Jackets played a tight game with Saint Mary's Tuesday, but in the end they weren't able to complete the comeback and fell to the Cardinals, 83-78 at South Point Arena.
 
The Yellowjackets (3-8, 1-1 UMAC) and Cardinals were neck and neck throughout, with the lead changing hands 12 times. For most of the game, Saint Mary's held the lead, but the Yellowjackets moved in front late and had a three-point advantage when J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) hit a jumper with 3:08 to play, making it 75-72. The Cardinals followed with a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach.
 
Saint Mary's opened up an 11-4 lead early, but the Yellowjackets countered with a 10-0 run to take a one-point lead just under six minutes into the game. The 'Jackets led 26-24 with just over seven minutes to play in the half, but Saint Mary's took off from there and closed the half out strong, leading the Yellowjackets 40-34 at the break.
 
The strong play kept going for Saint Mary's as the second half unfolded, and the Cardinals built the lead to as high as 13 points as the midpoint of the frame neared, but the Yellowjackets came roaring back. Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) hit a three-pointer to get the comeback started. A pair of free throws from Xavier Patterson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and a layup by Walker cut the Saint Mary's lead to single digits.
 
Mason Ackley (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) elevated for the dunk and Eli Vogel (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) followed with a jumper, pulling the Yellowjackets to within four at 68-64. Vogel hit a pair of free throws and Ackley hit a three to put the Yellowjackets in front for the first time in the second half, 69-68. From there Saint Mary's would outscore the Yellowjackets 15-9 to earn the victory.
 
Vogel led the Yellowjackets with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Patterson and Walker each finished with 17 points. Patterson also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Walker led the team with six assists. Johnson had nine points in just nine minutes off the bench for the Yellowjackets.
 
The Yellowjackets will play their second game of the 2021 d3hoops.com Classic Wednesday, when they take on Whittier College from Whittier, California. The opening tip is set for 5 p.m. CST.