RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The Yellowjacket men's basketball team resumed action Monday, traveling to the campus of UW-River Falls to partake in the 2024 Radisson Holiday Classic. Day one saw the Blue Devils of UW-Stout and the 'Jackets duke it out in the tournament opener, which would be followed by tournament-host UW-River Falls take on St. Scholastica.
 
Superior held the offensive edge early in the first half, taking a 12-10 lead and not looking back in the first half. The final 20 minutes of play saw the Blue Devils push to take a lead and holding on for a 66-65 victory.
 
Game Notes

• Superior got started with a steal-and-score courtesy of T.J. Moberg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park), who followed that up with a two-point jumper.
• The Blue Devils responded with a midrange jumper, but Hayden Quimby (Menasha, Wis./Xavier) logged one of his own before J'Vaun Walker (Rosharon, Texas/Manvel) garnered a steal-and-score of his own to bring the game to 8-4.
• At 10-10 the Yellowjackets got more offensive output from Walker, as his jumper gave UWS the lead for the remainder of the half.
• The 'Jackets shot 46.7 percent from the field in the first half, scoring 24 points off Blue Devil turnovers.
• UW-Stout came within one point at 42-41 in the early stages of the second, but the Yellowjackets held onto the lead thanks to points from Andrew Kunelius (Caledonia, Minn./Caledonia) and Rocco Paulson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East).
• Stout took the lead with a three-ball midway through the second half at 50-48 and wouldn't surrender it.
• UW-Superior came within one on multiple occasions. Quimby hit a three pointer to bring the 'Jackets within one at 57-56, but UW-Stout kept capitalizing on offense to maintain the lead.
• Walker attempted a three pointer with under a minute to go, but he was fouled beyond the arc. At 66-63 he sunk two-of-three free throws to trail by just one, but UWS was unable to capitalize as they dropped the tournament-opener 66-65.
• Walker paced Superior with 20 points and seven steals. He shot 50 percent from the field in the contest.
• Barker and Quimby each logged 13 and 12 points, respectively. Barker and Paulson each logged four rebounds on the night.

 
The Yellowjackets are back at it Tuesday, as they face the tournament-host Falcons in the finale. The opening tipoff is set for 5 p.m. inside Don Page Arena.
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