Ridgewater Warriors edge Riverland
WILLMAR -- Shooting 50 percent on its home floor stuck a dagger in Riverland's upset hopes and the Ridgewater Warriors rolled to an 88-63 victory on Saturday afternoon at the college.
Freshman center Casey Sussenguth made 9 of 13 shots and finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Warriors improved to 5-2 in the MCAC South.
Ben Moser shot 50 percent from the floor to finish with 18 points. while Cory Nietfeld contributed 14 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assist.
"We played outstanding defense," said Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson. "Probably the best we have all season. (Riverland) has been shooting 44 percent as a team this year from three-point range. You can't stand there and let them take those shots and I thought we did a good job on them in that area."
Center Tom Boike chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and three assists and Shawn Neu cashed a trio of treys for his nine points.
Jason Simmons led all scorers with 22 points, but Riverland stayed winless in the South.
Ridgewater has Anoka-Ramsey at home Saturday.
Ridgewater 88, Riverland 63
Riverland (0-7, 5-16) 31 32 -- 63
Ridgewater (5-2, 13-8) 43 45 -- 88
RIVERLAND - 21-62 FG (9-29 3-pt); 12-17 FT; 39 rebounds; 23 fouls ... Scoring: A.J. Kortz 14, Brian Voight 6, Chris Moragne 6, Derek Hahn 12, Jason Simmons 22, Danny Dewitz 4 ... 3-point shots: Kortz 3, Monson 1, Hahn 4, Simmons 1 ... Rebound leaders: Hahn 6 ... Assist leaders: Monson 3 ... Steal leaders: Voight 2
RIDGEWATER - 33-66 FG (6-19 3-pt); 16-25 FT; 56 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Shawn Neu 9, Ben Moser 18, Joe Anderson 2, Beau Bredeson 6, Chad Mulder 1, Derek Eisenschenk 9, Cory Nietfeld 14, Casey Sussenguth 19, Tom Boike 10 ... 3-point shots: Neu 3, Moser 1, Eisenschenk 2 ... Rebound leaders: Moser 7, Nietfeld 6, Sussenguth 13,, Boike 7 ... Assist leaders: Moser 3, Bredeson 3, Eisenschenk 3, Nietfeld 3, Boike 3 ... Steal leaders: Nietfeld 4, Bredeson 3, Moser 3
