UMAC Game of the Week: Bethany Lutheran vs. St. Scholastica - Men's Basketball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each Thursday during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
***UPDATE***
Bethany Lutheran wins 65-62
The Matchup
Saturday, Dec. 9 - Bethany Lutheran College at College of St. Scholastica, men's basketball, 3 p.m. in Duluth, Minnesota
What's at Stake
- Early-season edge - These teams were the top two in the UMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and were separated by one point. A win would give the victor an early advantage in the standings and season series.
- Regular-season revenge - Bethany Lutheran won both regular season games against St. Scholastica last winter to take the No. 2 spot in the postseason due to head-to-head tiebreakers.
- Postseason rematch - Bethany Lutheran hosted St. Scholastica and a third time proved to be a charm as St. Scholastica upset the Vikings by 20 points in the semifinal to advance to the title game against the University of Northwestern, which was eventually decided after four overtime sessions.
Previously in Action
- Bethany Lutheran opened UMAC play Wednesday with a convincing 97-72 win over 2016-17 champion Northwestern.
- St. Scholastica defeated bridge rival University of Wisconsin-Superior 75-56 to begin conference action Wednesday.
Need to Know
- Tough starts - Each team only owns three wins this season, but both have faced some of the toughest non-conference competition scheduled thus far by UMAC teams. Bethany Lutheran lost its opening two games by just four points and fell to Iowa Conference preseason favorite Nebraska Wesleyan University. St. Scholastica opened against No. 24 nationally-ranked Saint John's University and fell by one point on a buzzer beater to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
- Conference blowouts - Both teams opened UMAC action with lopsided wins Wednesday. The Vikings put up nearly 100 against reigning champ Northwestern behind 21 points from Brady Rose, while the Saints downed the Yellowjackets by 19 with Brandon Newman scoring 22 points.
- Ball control - Both teams are among the top in the conference in ball control categories. St. Scholastica boasts a UMAC-best 1.29 turnover margin and Bethany Lutheran is first in assist/turnover ration (1.33). The Saints are third (1.23).
Players to Watch - Bethany Lutheran
- Neil Eichten, Sr., G - Honorable Mention last season; Overall Stats: 12.1 ppg, 2.5 ppg, Leads UMAC in ast./g (5.1)
- Trenton Krueger, So., F - Overall Stats: 17.3 ppg, 6.4 ppg, 1.1 blk/g, Leads UMAC in FG% (.678)
- Brady Rose, Sr., F- Honorable Mention last season; Overall Stats: 14.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .806 FT%
Players to Watch - St. Scholastica
- Collin Anderson, So., G - Overall Stats: 10.1 ppg, 2.3 ast./g
- Brandon Newman, Jr., G- All-UMAC last season; Overall Stats: 16.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, .481 FG%, 2.4 ast/g, 2.0 stl/g
- Jarod Wilken, Fy., F- Overall Stats: 10.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, .595 3pt FG%
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2017-18 Game of the Week Archives