VIRGINIA -- David Johnson scored 33 points and Ridgewater College overcame a 13-point first-half deficit to defeat Hibbing Community College 88-76 on Friday in the Warriors' opener.
"Some of our guys were really nervous at the start," said first-year head coach Bob Knutson, who made his college debut. "We had to sit them down for a time and let them settle down."
Takeaways by Terrance Walton and Travis Nordling ignited the comeback. Led by the 6-5 Johnson's 17 points, Ridgewater went to halftime leading 44-42, then outscored the Cardinals (1-2) 44-34 the last 20 minutes.
"They had no answer inside for David Johnson," said Knutson. "I thought he always played two inches taller, but today he played like he was 6-9."
Johnson also stabbed 13 rebounds. Sophomore post Isaac Brehmer added 13 points and freshman post Travis Schultz eight points and nine rebounds.
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Allen Huselid contributed eight rebounds and eight assists. Geoff Nelson, one of only three holdovers from a year ago, added six points.
Jeff Hussong scored 18 points to lead Hibbing.
The Warriors play Mesabi Range today.
Ridgewater 88, Hibbing 76
Ridgewater (1-0)......................................44 44 -- 88
Hibbing (1-2).........................................42 34 -- 76
RIDGEWATER - 33-75 FG (1-12 pt); 21-31 FT; 49 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Terrance Walton 2-3 2-2 6, David Johnson 14-26 5-8 33, Travis Schultz 4-4 0-2 8, Andrew Ford 0-11 0-3 0, Tim Dreier 0-0 2-2 2, Allen Huselid 1-8 1-1 3, Micah Oates-Jenkins 0-3 1-2 1, Isaac Brehmer 5-7 3-5 13, Geoff Nelson 2-2 2-2 6, Travis Nordling 4-8 2-3 11, Chris LeTendre 1-3 3-4 5 ... 3-point shots: Nordling 1-4 ... Rebound leader: Johnson 13, Schultz 9, Ford 6, Huselid 8 ... Assist leader: Huselid 8, Walton 2, Nordling 2, Schultz 2 ... Steal leader: Ford 3, Dreier 2, Huselid 2 .... Blocks: Schultz 2, Ford 1
HIBBING - 32-83 FG (4-24 3 pt); 8-10 FT; 43 rebounds; 21 fouls ... Scoring: Jesse Quick 3-13 1-2 7, Jeff Hussong 7-13 2-2 18, Dusty Rahja 4-7 0-0 8, Eric Augustin 1-11 2-2 4, Ian Williams 6-9 0-0 14, Aaron Davis 2-5 0-0 4, Carlton Lawson 4-7 3-4 11, Dennis Bowen 1-3 0-0 2, Dee Morris-Mack 1-4 0-0 2, Steve Roelofs 2-7 0-0 4, Carrington Jackson 1-3 0-0 2 ... 3-point shots: Williams 2-4, Hussong 2-4... Rebound leader: Augustin 10, Roelofs 9 ... Assist leader: Augustin 4 ... Steal leader: Augustin 5
