SUPERIOR, Wis. – Following a series of rugged non-conference games to open the 2023-24 season, the Yellowjacket men's basketball team got its first taste of Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play Friday, as it hosted Crown College at The Mertz.
 
And that initial taste turned out to be a bit sour for the Yellowjackets.
 
A slow start saw the Yellowjackets fall behind by double digits in the first half, before they clawed their way back to take a lead in the second half. In the end Crown regained the lead and held off the Yellowjackets, earning a 67-58 win.
 
The Yellowjackets (6-2, 0-1 UMAC) struggled shooting Friday, going 24-of-60 from the field, good for a 40 percent clip. They were just 1-for-14 from beyond the arc, and also struggled from the free throw line, making 9-of-16.

As has been the case for much of the season, the Yellowjackets were paced offensively by J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel), who led the way with 22 points.
 
The 'Jackets were cold early, missing their first six field goal attempts. Still, a Walker jumper put them in front by a bucket three minutes in. This was right around the time Crown began to heat up, going on an 8-0 run to move in front 10-4. A pair of Walker free throws got the Yellowjackets to within two at 10-8, but Crown then blew the first half open, opening up a 27-12 lead with just under seven minutes to go in the first half.
 
As time ticked off the clock the Yellowjackets began to close the gap. A dunk from Andrew Beers (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) got the 'Jackets back to within single digits, but Crown again built the lead up to 13. Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) then electrified the crowd, hitting a shot from three-quarter court as time expired to cut the Crown lead to eight, 39-31, at the half.
 
The bets stretch of shooting for the Yellowjackets came to start the second half.

Walker and T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) hit jumpers in the first three minutes to cut the deficit to six, 41-25. Beers' second dunk of the evening made it a four-point game. The Yellowjackets got it to within a point, 43-42, but again Crown gained separation.
 
Josef Fahrenholtz (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) hit a jumper in the paint just past the midpoint of the half to make it a two-point game, and Ty Melchert (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest) followed with a jumper of his own, evening the score at 52-52 with nine minutes to play. Reig Johnson followed with a layup, and for the first time since it was 4-2, the Yellowjackets were in front, leading 54-52 with 7:54 to play.
 
The teams traded baskets until Crown again separated, getting back-to-back makes to lead 60-56. A three late, followed by four free good free throws provided the winning margin, as Crown closed out the game.
 
Fahrenholtz added 10 points and also tied Walker for the team lead with eight rebounds.
 
The Yellowjackets will be back home Saturday when they host Minnesota Morris. The opening tip is set for 4:45 p.m. at The Mertz.