Men's basketball: M-State powers past Ridgewater
WILLMAR — The Ridgewater men’s basketball team had one of the MCAC Southern Division’s top teams on the ropes Wednesday before M-State-Fergus Falls fought back for an 89-78 win at the Ridgewater College gym.
The Warriors fell to 3-4 in the division and 9-11 overall while Fergus improved to 6-1 in the division and 15-5 overall.
Ridgewater led by two at halftime, outshooting one of the league’s top shooting teams and outrebounding them by 10, too.
But Fergus Falls got it going in the second half, hitting 61 percent from the floor and hitting 8 of 10 from the foul line. Fergus limited the Warriors to 33 points after halftime.
“Our defense broke down too many times,” said Warriors head coach Bob Knutson. “We gave them too many easy shots.”
Despite their mediocre first half, Fergus shot above their season averages for the game, Knutson said.
“That was not our goal,” he said with a laugh. “We want it to work the other way.”
Terrance Lockett led the Warriors with 23 points and 7 rebounds and Neil Helgeson had 17 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Melvin Kromah shot well, hitting 6 of 8 from the field and finishing with 13 points.
Former Minnewaska star Shane Bosek led Fergus Falls with 20 points and 8 rebounds.
The Warriors play St. Cloud Technical College at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. Cloud State’s Halenbeck Hall.
M-State-Fergus Falls 89,
Ridgewater 78
Fergus Falls (6-1 15-5) 43 46 — 89
Willmar (3-4 9-11) 45 33 — 78
FERGUS FALLS – 32-56 FG (4-6 3-pt); 15-19 FT; 40 rebounds; 17 fouls … Scoring: Boomer Blossom 4, Shane Bosek 20, Chuckie Smith 13, Rapheal Cabaniss 7, Luke Halbakken 14, Bee Pee Pajibo 10, Jason Nelson 21 … 3-point shots: Bosek 2, Smith 2 … Rebound leaders: Bosek 8, Blossom 7, Smith 7 … Assist leaders: Gavin Dettwiler 2, Blossom 2, Smith 2, Cabaniss 2 … Steal leaders: Smith 3
WILLMAR – 33-75 FG (4-17 3-pt); 8-15 FT; 40 rebounds; 14 fouls … Scoring: Zak Pendleton 8, Melvin Kromah 13, Neil Helgeson 17, Terrance Lockett 23, Jake Rambow 4, Jordan Schwarz 6, Jeremy Olson 4, Beau Herrig 3 … 3-point shots: Pendleton 2, Helgeson 1, Lockett 1 … Rebound leaders: Herrig 14, Helgeson 9, Lockett 7 … Assist leaders: Kromah 3, Lockett 2, Rambow 2, Herrig 2 … Steal leaders: Kromah 3, Herrig 3
