SUPERIOR, Wis. – Saturday the Yellowjacket men's basketball returned to the hardwood inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym, taking on Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)'s Macalester. Following today's contest, the 'Jackets won't return home until the start of 2025, entering conference play against North Central after hitting the road for seven games.
For all the Yellowjacket fans both in attendance and watching online, they witnessed a thriller.
Both teams managed to stay within seven points of each other throughout the contest, and at the end of 40 minutes both teams were all squared to force an overtime period. In the extra five minutes of play, the Yellowjackets took an early lead and managed to hang on, defeating the Scots 78-76.
Game Notes
- Superior saw Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) get on the board after the Scots logged the first two points of the contest. Back-to-back three pointers by Macalester saw them lead before Reid Johnson (Chatfield, Minn./Chatfield) drew a foul, logging both free throws to trail by four at 12-8.
- J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) and Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) began to come alive in the first half, as Walker stole the ball from Kaden Holdbrook and converted on the fast break. Kunelius took a feed from Rocco Paulson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) and brought UWS within two at 15-13.
- Max Briggs (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) drew a foul from Macalester's Ryan Brush, bringing the 'Jackets within one and Johnson's jumper gave UWS the lead.
- Action commenced nearing the end of the half, as Hayden Quimby (Menasha, Wis./Xavier) joined the scoring with a pair of buckets. Kunelius and Walker helped pace UWS towards the end of the half, bringing the game into 30-30.
- Once halftime commenced, T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) began with a defensive rebound and converted on a layup opportunity before Andrew Beers (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) showed off his range, logging a three pointer to lead the Scots by three at 35-32.
- Johnson and Paulson logged points midway through the half, but Macalester kept applying offensive pressure of their own. Briggs logged a shot beyond the arc after taking a feed from Quimby, which was followed by Quimby garnering a layup of his own.
- UWS maintained a five-point lead with nine seconds left in the game, but the Scots came through when it mattered most. A three pointer from Brush came through and a quick steal came into the hands of Holdbrook and he converted the jumper as the scoreboard hit all zeros, forcing an overtime period.
- Johnson logged a jumper inside the paint to begin the overtime period, and a pair of fouls favored UWS as they gained a four-point advantage at 70-66. Quimby converted on a long ball at 75-68, but the Scots returned the favor just 11 seconds later.
- A jumper from Joey Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) gave a six-point cushion, and despite a comeback late, the Yellowjackets held on for a 78-76 victory.
- Kunelius finished the contest with 16 points, while Quimby and Johnson tallied 14 and 13, respectively.
- Barker spearheaded Superior in the rebounds department, finishing with 10-of-29.
- The 'Jackets converted 26 points on turnovers, compared to Macalester's zero.
UW-Superior returns to action next Saturday, traveling to the Lone Star State to play a pair of contests. Their first game against Trinity (Tex.) is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT inside the Jerabeck Activity and Athletic Center in Houston, Texas.
