SUPERIOR, Wis. – After a number of stops and starts, the third time was the charm for the Yellowjacket men's basketball team. Saturday afternoon was supposed to be the team's third game at Mertz Mortorelli Gym, but after a pair of postponements, the contest with North Central ended up being the home opener.
 
It wasn't going to be an easy game, as the Yellowjackets came in with a severely depleted roster, dressing only seven players in just its second game of the year. Still, the Yellowjackets hung tough and led midway through the first half. North Central didn't allow the lead to last, hitting 21 three-pointers in the game on the way to a 94-49 win over the Yellowjackets.
 
Jackson Mittelstadt (Brownsville, Wis./Mayville) and Eli Vogel (Appleton, Wis./Appleton West) each scored 13 points to lead the way for the Yellowjackets (0-2, 0-2 UMAC).
 
Kyle Bilodeau (Chetek, Wis./Chetek-Weyerhauser) opened the scoring and Vogel hit a jumper just under three minutes into the game to give the Yellowjackets the lead. Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and Carter Brown (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis Catholic) each hit threes and Vogel made a jumper to make it 19-16 Yellowjackets. Just past the midpoint of the half the Yellowjackets led by four, but the Rams went on a serious run. North Central outscored the Yellowjackets 32-2 the rest of the way to build a big lead.
 
The Yellowjackets shot better in the second half, going 10-of-30 from the field, but North Central continued to hit three-point baskets and build its lead.
 
Brown scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds for the Yellowjackets, and Barker added seven points and seven rebounds. Vogel also had a team-best eight boards.
 
Cameron Thomas had a big game for North Central, scoring a game-high 29 points and grabbing 22 rebounds. His stat line also included five blocks.
 
The Yellowjackets will be on the road Thursday, February 18 when they cross the bridge to take on St. Scholastica. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
 
UW-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics will follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines and protocols recommended by the Douglas County Health Department. To conduct our events in the safest manner possible, spectators will not be permitted at UW-Superior home athletic events. Fans can follow the Yellowjackets through our online content provider, the iFan Sports Network. Fans can also listen to contests live on the radio home of Yellowjacket sports, 91.3 KUWS.