UMAC Game of the Week: Bethany Lutheran vs. St. Scholastica - Men's Basketball
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each week during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport.
Photos by: Dave Norris (BLC), Derek Montgomery (CSS)
The Matchup
Saturday, Dec. 8 - College of St. Scholastica at Bethany Lutheran College, men's basketball, 4:45 p.m. in Mankato, Minnesota
***UPDATE***
Bethany Lutheran wins 90-74
What's at Stake
- New rivals - Bethany Lutheran and St. Scholastica finished 1-2 last season separated by just one game for the conference title. They split their regular season series a year ago with both teams earning road victories by a total of eight combined points. The year previous, the two teams tied for second at 12-4 with St. Scholastica pulling off the upset in the playoffs over the Vikings. This will certainly be one of the most closely contested series of the season.
- Early season predictions - This game will definitely have implications on postseason seeding though slated at the start of the conference schedule. The Vikings were picked No. 1 in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with 62 points while the Saints were second with 56 points. Both teams will want this win as they contend for the title.
Previously in Action
- Bethany Lutheran stumbled in its rematch of last year's postseason title game vs. University of Northwestern Wednesday with a 86-72 loss to start conference play 0-1.
- St. Scholastica destroyed bridge rival University of Wisconsin-Superior in its conference opener 85-51 Wednesday evening to start off with a 1-0 UMAC record.
Need to Know
- Neck-and-Neck - Each of the last two seasons, the Saints and Vikings have ended up either tied or one game apart in the conference standings, but the Vikings have won three of the last four games the two have played. The Saints won the most recent match up on the road and will look to gain another road victory in what is becoming one of the most exciting series of the UMAC men's basketball schedule each season.
- Perimeter shooting - Both teams are among the top 3-point shooting teams in the UMAC so far this year. The Saints lead the league shooting 42.3 percent beyonf the arc and average 9.2 made per game. The Vikings are shooting 36.1 percent from deep and average 8.3 made per game. Defending the three will be key in scoring a win Saturday.
- Keep it close - The score differential in five of the Vikings' eight games this season has been nine points or less, and they have come out victorious in three of those five. On the flip side, the Saints have only played two games that were decided by single digits for a total of three points. On a three game win-streak, the Saints have picked up two wins by a margin of 16 points or more. A closer game throughout likely favors the Vikings.
Players to Watch - Bethany Lutheran
- Austin Bauer, Sr., G - Overall Stats: 8.5 ppg, 55.0 FG%, 65.0 3-pt%, 2.4 apg
- Cire Mayfield, Fy., G - Overall Stats: 20.0 ppg (1st), 46.8 FG%, 5.4 apg (1st)
- Jared Milinkovich, So., G - Overall Stats: 10.9 ppg, 48.0 FG%, 7.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.9 bpg, 1.4 spg
Players to Watch - St. Scholastica
- Collin Anderson, Jr., G - Honorable Mention Last Season; Overall Stats: 17.4 ppg, 45.3 FG%, 45.9 3-ptFG% (1st), 3.4 3-pt FG/g
- Quinn Fischer, Fy., G - Overall Stats: 14.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.0 spg
- Brandon Newman, Sr., G - All-UMAC Last Season; Overall Stats: 17.2 ppg, 6.2 ppg, 92.5 FT% (1st), 2.3 apg, 1.0 spg
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2018-19 Game of the Week Archives