MANKATO, Minn. – After having three contests postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, the Yellowjacket men's basketball team finally opened its 2021 season Saturday afternoon. Picked to finish fourth by a vote of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference coaches, the 'Jackets traveled to take on Bethany Lutheran, the team slotted just ahead of them in the pre-season poll.
 
The Yellowjackets enter the season with an abundance of youth – the roster features no seniors and 15 players who are either freshmen or sophomores. Saturday, the youthful Yellowjackets took on a Bethany Lutheran team already playing its fourth game of the year. The 'Jackets hung tough early and had the lead midway through the first half, but in the end they were overtaken by Bethany Lutheran, who earned the 81.69 win on its home court.
 
Mason Ackley (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) paced the Yellowjackets (0-1, 0-1 UMAC) offensively, finishing with a team-best 16 points on 8-of-18 shooting in 34 minutes. Freshman Josh Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Denfeld) added 10 points in his first game in black and yellow.
 
The lead changed times six times in the first ten minutes, with the Yellowjackets opening up their biggest lead of the game at 12-9 when Ackley hit a layup. From there the Vikings went on a 10-0 run to move ahead. A J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) layup pulled the Yellowjackets to within 21-18, but the Vikings responded again, going on a 9-0 run to move ahead by 12. The Yellowjackets closed the gap late and went to the locker down seven, 33-26.
 
Bethany Lutheran opened the second half strong, going on a 13-2 run to pull away and pick up the victory, improving to 4-0 on the year and 3-0 in the UMAC.
 
Josef Fahrenholtz (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) had six points and led the Yellowjackets with eight rebounds. Carter Brown (Eau Claire, Wis./Regis Catholic) had seven points and added three steals.
 
The Yellowjackets will make their home debut Wednesday, February 10 when they host Finlandia in a non-conference game. The opening tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
 
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.