SUPERIOR, Wis. – Saturday the Yellowjacket men's basketball team began their season like they always have, hosting the annual NBC Tip-Off Classic inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym. This year's competitors included UW-River Falls, Central (Iowa), and Marian. The 'Jackets began the regular season with a matchup with the Sabres, and despite outscoring Marian in the second half, the Yellowjackets dropped a tight 68-67 contest.
Game Notes
- Marian built an early seven-point lead at 11-4 before Rocco Paulson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East) and Evan Bennett (Superior, Wis./Superior) helped push the Yellowjacket offense to an even 13-13 midway through.
- Landen Thomer (Mosinee, Wis./Mosinee) produced a slew of rebounds in the first half, while Caiden Lecce (Kenosha, Wis./St. Joseph Catholic) also provided offensive output.
- Both teams traded blows later in the half, and a late three pointer from Andrew Ayeni gave the Sabres a three-point edge heading into the half at 33-30.
- Back-and-forth points were distributed between the teams until Nick Nordaune (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) took a feed from Lecce to bring Superior within two at 39-37, and later a Nordaune layup followed by an Eddie Mittermeyer (Cadott, Wis./McDonnell Central Catholic) trey gave the Yellowjackets the lead.
- Kenny Garth (Kenosha, Wis./Westosha Central) drew a three pointer off a pass from Lecce at the eight minute mark, but from there Marian extended their control and held on late for a one-point victory, advancing to the championship game on Sunday.
- Offensively Bennett led with 15 points, while Thomer produced a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Lecce ended with 12 points of his own.
- Ayeni finished his day with 23 points and seven rebounds, leading both the offensive and defensive efforts for Marian.
The 'Jackets will take on UW-River Falls in the consolation game Sunday, which is set for 2 p.m. inside Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
