BOLIVAR, Mo. — SBU fought hard and hung tight with Minnesota-Crookston in their first game of the season but would end up falling 73-64. The loss puts the Bearcat’s record at 0-1 (0-0 MIAA) on the season.
Minnesota Crookston was the first to score but the Bearcats answered back with a layup from Brian Patterson. Shots dropped for both teams as the score remained tight. A small 5-0 run with shots from Kalehl Brown and Louis Baltazar put the Bearcats on top 12-9 (15:15) but the Golden Eagles would respond with their own short run of 11-0 to pull back on top 20-12 with 12:19 left in the half. Just under 2 minutes would roll off the clock before the Bearcats would score off a free-throw from Baltazar followed quickly by a layup from Cartree Pettis bringing the score to 20-15 (Minnesota Crookston) with 10:05 on the clock.
After a couple shots from the Golden Eagles, SBU picked up some momentum laid down back-to-back 3-pointers from Hovey and Patterson to pull within 3 points (21-24 Minnesota-Crookston) with 8:12 remaining in the half. The Bearcats played tight defense but the Golden Eagles continued to score pulling ahead 29-21 with just under 5 minutes left in the first half. A foul sent Hovey to the line where he was 2-2 and after a quick turn-around, Kai Woodfall scored on a 3-pointer to bring the score to 32-26 Minnesota-Crookston with 3:39 left in the half. The Bearcats would out-score the the Golden Eagles 8-4 in the remaining minutes of the first half but would go into halftime trailing 34-38.
SBU started off the second half with a 5-0 run to take the lead 39-38 with 17:40 left in the half. Points went back and forth between the Golden Eagles and the Bearcats with the Bearcats maintaining a slim lead well into the second half. Minnesota Crookston took the lead back with a 3-pointer but Kalehl Brown responded with his own 3-pointer to put the Bearcats up 46-44 with 13:50 left in the game. The Eagles again scored to take the lead but a 3-pointer by Karim Mouliom kept the game tied 49-49 with 11:22 on the clock.
The game would go scoreless for the next few minutes before free-throw by Baltazar put the Bearcats on top by 1 (50-49). Shots fell for both teams as they would again tie and remain tied with 7:32 left in the game. A 6-0 run by the Golden Eagles would be ended by a Patterson layup bringing the score to 59-55 Minnesota-Crookston. Free-throws from Kalehl Brown and a 3-pointer from Patterson would bring the Bearcats within 2 (62-64) but the Golden Eagles continued to lead the game with 2:32 left in the game. Cartier Dean’s 2-2 from the free-throw line pulled the Bearcats within 5 points but they couldn’t get any closer and SBU would fall 64-73 to Minnesota-Crookston.
Brian Patterson led the Bearcats with a team high 18 points and 7 rebounds. Kalehl Brown contributed 11 points while Cartier Dean had 8 points. Leading the team in rebounds was newcomer Louis Baltazar with 11 rebounds. As a team, SBU shot 35.7% from the field, 45% from behind the 3-point line, and 62.5% from the free-throw line.
SBU will return to action when they face off against the University of Mary on Saturday, November 12th. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.
