DULUTH, Min.— The Yellowjacket men's basketball team headed across the bridge for a border battle with St. Scholastica, looking to continue its winning ways. Coming off a strong weekend hosting the Merrill Thompson Classic, the Yellowjackets entered play Wednesday looking to win their fourth straight game to start the season. The last time that happened was 2004-05, when UWS opened the campaign 5-0.

Once again, the Yellowjackets' top players shined, helping to add another tally to the win column.

Reigning Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Player of the Week J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) turned in another strong performance, leading the Yellowjackets with 16 points on the way to a 70-62 win on the road.

The teams went back and forth for much of the first half before the Yellowjackets (4-0, 0-0 UMAC) pulled away late, taking a 37-30 lead into halftime that they wouldn't give up.

The first half remained back and forth before the Yellowjackets were able to break apart from the Saints in the remaining three minutes. Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) would get that ball rolling when he would make two free throws. Walker would soon make a steal and Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) would drain it from behind the three-point line to give the Yellowjackets a seven-point lead to end the first half.

The Saints held the 'Jackets to a close second half, coming within two points, but were not able to ever tie the game or take the lead.  The Yellowjackets would hold the lead for the entire second half, taking the win with a final score of 70-62.

In addition to his points, Walker also had five steals, three rebounds and two assists.

Barker would put up 13 points and was perfect from the free throw line. He would also have three rebounds.

Josef Fahrenholtz (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) was just behind Barker with 12 points on the night. Fahrenholtz also was perfect from the line and pulled down four rebounds. To tie the rebound team high tonight, T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) would also go down with four rebounds.

The Yellowjackets are back in action on Saturday, Nov. 18 as they return home to host Ripon. The opening tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.