SUPERIOR, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's basketball team played its fourth home game of the season Thursday, taking on bridge-rival St. Scholastica in non-conference action. UWS came into the game after splitting its two games in the annual Merrill Thompson Classic but riding a victory over Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) competitor St. Olaf.
 
The 'Jackets started things off on a high note, but the Saints clawed their way back and led at the break. After both teams traded points and the lead in the beginning stages of the second half, UWS began to apply more offensive pressure, cruising to an 84-73 win.
 
Game Notes

• Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) got the Yellowjackets started, scoring the game's first six points off a three pointer, a layup and a free throw. J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) scored his first points of the contest and traded scoring with Barker until Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) logged a shot beyond the arc to lead by six.
• CSS capitalized on Yellowjacket miscues, drawing fouls and forcing turnovers as they tied things up at 21-21. Barker, alongside Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) helped guide the 'Jackets back on track.
• UW-Superior was issued a technical foul, and that sparked the Saints to ending the half with a one-point advantage at 38-37. St. Scholastica's Tanner Thomson hit a jumper to lead UWS by three, but Barker and Walker snatched the lead right back and wouldn't look back.
• The duo of Kunelius and Walker kept things under control until the Saints hit a three to fall within two at 47-45. A layup by T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) and a three from Kunelius saw UWS lead by five, then continue to control the offense midway through the half.
• Action progressed as Hayden Quimby (Menasha, Wis./Xavier) logged a jumper after taking a feed from Johnson to bring the game to 66-58. The Saints came within four after Bryce Shoto drew a foul, but Walker, Johnson and Kunelius paced the 'Jackets to an 84-73 win.
• Walker led the offensive output, scoring 22 on the evening. He added four assists while grabbing six rebounds.
• Kunelius and Johnson accounted for 18 points, while Barker finished with 17. Barker finished with six rebounds, while Andrew Beers (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) and Johnson garnered five in the contest.
• UWS scored 24 points off turnovers, compared to the Saints' 18.
• Superior shot 47.4 percent from field goal range, while CSS ended with a 54.7 mark from midrange.

 
The Yellowjackets play their last home game Saturday before hitting the road for seven-straight games, as they host Macalester. Opening tipoff is set for 1 p.m. inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
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