VIRGINIA -- Eleven players got in the scoring column, but it was tough defense that fueled Ridgewater's 85-59 win over Hibbing Community College on Saturday afternoon at Mesabi College.
Cory Niefeld tallied 16 points and four others scored in low double figures as the Warriors finished 1-1 on opening weekend.
"We didn't shoot that well but we kept attacking and we played hard and physical the whole game," said coach Bob Knutson of Ridgewater's effort.
Hibbing manahged to shoot only 30 percent from the field against the Warriors' clinging defense.
Guards Tim Dreier and Jarrett Campbell had 11 points each and Derek Eisenchenk and Ben Moser 10 each.
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Travis Nordling chipped in with six points and eight rebounds and Ralph Viana eight points and six rebounds.
Ridgewater got to the free throw line for 32 shots (making 24) compared to 5 of 8 at the line in a 103-90 loss to Mesabi on Friday.
Ridgewater plays Concordia's junior varsity on Tuesday in Willmar.
Ridgewater 85, Hibbing 59
HIBBING (1-3) 28 31 -- 59
RIDGEWATER (1-1) 41 44 -- 85
HIBBING - 22-76 FG (4-20 3-pt); 11-19 FT; 51 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Bruce Merrill 14, Jessie Quick 9, Dante Pearson 7, John McCoskey 3, Derek Martin 3, Dusty Raja 1, Termaine Hill 6, Sam Kenyi 6, Ian Williams 4, Jamale Priester 5 ... 3-point shots: Pearson 1, Priester 1, Merrill 1, McCoskey 1 ... Rebound leaders: Merrill 14, Raja 8, Kenyi 6 ... Assist leaders: Quick 4 ... Steal leaders: Quick 2
RIDGEWATER - 27-63 FG (7-24 3-pt); 24-32 FT; 40 rebounds; 18 fouls ... Scoring: Cory Nietfield 16, Chad Mulder 2, Tim Dreier 11, Derek Eisenschenk, 10, Tom Boike 4, Micah Oates-Jenkins 3, Jarrett Campbell 11, Ben Moser 10, Ralph Viana 8, Joey Sullivan 4, Travis Nordling 6 ... 3-point shots: Nietfield 1, Eisenschenk 2, Campbell 2, Moser 1, Viana 1... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 6, Moser 5, Boike 8, Nordling 8, Viana 6, Moser 4 ... Assist leaders: Mulder 3, Viana 3, Dreier 2, Boike 2 ... Steal leaders: Nietfeld 4, Viana 3, Nordling 2, Campbell 2, Dreier 2 ... Blocked shots: Boike 2
