SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The last time the Yellowjacket men's basketball team required overtime was last season. Facing off against the University of Northwestern inside Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium, the 'Jackets came out with a 57-54 win over the Eagles.
 
Fast forward to Friday, the Yellowjackets had a date against the Eagles, and once again both teams needed overtime to determine a winner. Outscoring Northwestern 11-9, the Yellowjackets got it done and put another tally in the win column.
 
Play commenced with Northwestern scoring the first points of the game, but Andrew Beers (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) was quick to counter after taking a feed from J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel). Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) gained his first two points of the contest with a jumper inside the paint, leading up to Walker dishing it back to Kunelius for a shot from downtown to lead 9-4.
 
T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) chimed in and hit a jumper inside the arc and Walker followed with one of his own, before Josef Fahrenholtz (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) hit his first points of the game after drawing a foul from Andrew Koehler. Northwestern countered and came within two, but Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) took a pass from Max Briggs (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) and hit a trey to keep a five-point lead at 18-13.
 
Fahrenholtz hit another three pointer, then followed that up with a jump shot courtesy of a pass from Beers, who hit a jumper of his own before the Eagles called a timeout after trailing 25-17. The 'Jackets maintained their lead, but that shrunk to just one after Northwestern rallied with points from Jeremiah Lavelle, Parker Behne, Elijah Burns, and Caleb Hoilien. As time ticked off the scoreboard, Beers hit a shot beyond the arc to keep a four-point cushion heading into halftime.
 
Fahrenholtz and Johnson kept the offense going to begin the second half, hitting multiple jumpers before Fahrenholtz received a feed from Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) and finished the trey. Hoilien and Burns found their groove and brought the game even at 46-46, and both teams traded blows.
 
The Eagles got up by five points, but the 'Jackets closed in courtesy of Fahrenholtz, Walker and Moberg. Walker hit a jumper to tie the game at 60-60, but the fans inside Ericksen Center received free basketball with the overtime period.
 
Kunelius kicked overtime off with a layup, but Northwestern drew a foul and converted. Teams exchanged points and the lead, but Micah Pocernich hit a three for a 67-65 edge before Ty Melchert (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest) hit a jumper to tie the game. Fahrenholtz drew a foul and he hit both free throws to clear the logjam, and from there the 'Jackets never gave up the lead. Kunelius was fouled with 18 seconds remaining and he drained both, and despite Henry Fahnbulleh hitting a late layup, time expired and the 'Jackets edged the Eagles 71-69.
 
Fahrenholtz led the offensive output with 19 points, while also contributing seven rebounds. Walker was responsible for 16 points, while Kunelius scored 11 with four boards.
 
The Yellowjackets remain in the Twin Cities Saturday, facing North Central. Tipoff inside Clark-Danielson Gymnasium is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.