SUPERIOR, Wis. -- Sophomore Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) tallied a game- and career-high-tying 17 points, leading a group of four UW-Superior men's basketball players in double figures in a season-opening 73-57 victory over St. Scholastica at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Tuesday.
 
Senior Josef Fahrenholtz (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while juniors J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) and Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) scored 15 points each.
 
Down by five, UWS held the Saints scoreless for the final 6:52 of the first half, taking a 13-point, 36-23 advantage into the break. St. Scholastica misfired on its last 10 attempts from the field in the period, allowing Superior to gain separation. Johnson drained three 3-pointers in the 18-0 run that grew to 20-0 when Fahrenholtz knocked down a jumper on the first possession of the second half.
 
St. Scholastica whittled the deficit to as few as four points at 51-47 on a Nick Carlson free throw with 8:38 to play, but Johnson canned another triple and Walker a jumper over the next two minutes to restore a comfortable margin at 56-47. Another Walker jumper in the lane jumpstarted an 8-0 run that was punctuated by a Barker dunk that made it 64-49 with 3:44 remaining.
 
The Yellowjackets shot 50 percent for the game, hitting 30-of-60 shots, and were plus-8 on the glass, holding a 39-31 edge in rebounding. Walker and Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) each grabbed seven boards to go with Fahrenoltz's 10.
 
UWS forced 16 St. Scholastica turnovers, snatching 11 steals, and dished out 15 assists on its 30 made baskets.
 
In all 14 different players saw the floor with seven half of them finding the scoring column.
 
The Yellowjackets next host the 12th-annual Merrill Thompson Classic. UWS opens play against Central Friday at 7:30 p.m., and will get either UW-Platteville or Lawrence Saturday at 1 of 3 p.m.