Ridgewater men outlast Fergus Falls in 2 OTs
WILLMAR -- Cory Nietfeld and Casey Sussenguth combined to deposit 53 points, but it was Shawn Neu and Derek Eisenschenk who cashed money shots as Ridgewater College rallied twice to top Fergus Falls 110-100 on Saturday in double overtime.
Neu sank a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the score, 77-77, and force the first overtime. It was his only make in six 3-point tries for the freshman guard from Granite Falls.
"I didn't expect to be in that situation but the shot was open and I took it," said Neu, who finished with seven points.
The Spartans bolted to an 87-79 bulge in the first overtime, but the Warriors fought back, helped by the Spartans inability to make free throws (18 for 36).
This time Eisenschenk, a sophomore guard from Cold Spring, whistled in a three-pointer from the corner with four seconds left to tie it 92-92 to send the game to a second overtime.
Ben Moser, who finished with 16 points, hit a three-pointer to start the second OT and put the Warriors (3-0 MCAC South, 11-6 overall) into the lead for just the second time all game. Moser fed Eisenschenk for two more, then Nietfeld scored and 5-9 guard Beau Bredeson made a steal and lay-up for a 101-94 spread.
"This shows we can fight back, really back," said Eisenschenk, who had 18 points.
Sussenguth made 13 of 16 free throws and finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Nietfeld supplied 26 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Jordan Johnsrud, 6-7 freshman post from Starbuck, helped the Spartans with 14 points and eight rebounds. He had two dunks in the first half when the Fergus quickness and 51 percent shooting built as much as a 17-point lead.
Ridgewater 110, Fergus Falls 100
Fergus F(1-3, 13-6) 44 33 15 8 -- 100
Ridgew. (3-0, 11-6) 32 45 15 18 -- 110
MSCTC-FERGUS FALLS - 38-81 FG (6-22 3-pt); 18-36 FT; 51 rebounds; 28 fouls ... Scoring: Jerome Vaughn 16, Wiley Jiles 20, Jordan Johnsrud 14, Cody Aasness 3, Sam Neumann 9, Brandyn Frelix 25,ad Sand 13 .... 3-point shots: Jiles 4, Neumann 1, Sand 1 ... Rebound leaders: Sand 13, Johnsrud 8 ... Assist leaders: Ray Gardner 9 ...Steal leaders: Aasness 4 ... Blocked shots: Johnsrud 2
RIDGEWATER COLLEGE - 37-89 FG (7-29 3-pt); 29-35 FT; 59 rebounds; 26 fouls ... Scoring: Ben Moser 16, Tom Boike 4, Beau Bredeson 10, Dan Hennen 2, Derek Eisenschenk 18, Shawn Neu 7, Cory Nietfeld 26, Casey Sussenguth 27 ... 3-point shots: Moser 2, Neu 1, Eisenschenk 4 ... Rebound leaders: Moser 8, Bredeson 5, Nietfeld 10, Sussenguth 12 ... Assist leaders: Bredeson 7, Eisenschenk 3, Sussenguth 3 ... ... Steal leaders: Nietfeld 9, Sussenguth 2, Eisenschenk 2, Bredeson 2 ... Blocked shots: Nietfeld 2, Sussenguth 2
