ELY -- Ridgewater started out strong on Saturday, but tired in the second half and fell to Vermilion 78-71 in a junior college men's basketball game.
"I couldn't be more pleased with how hard the guys are playing," said Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson. "But they simply ran out of gas in the second half. You could see they were tired. They're getting used to college basketball and these long trips and their legs just weren't there."
Things don't get any easier either. The Warriors travel to Wahpeton, N.D. today to take on North Dakota State College of Science.
Ridgewater led 41-32 at halftime against Vermilion, ranked No. 7 in the nation. But the Warriors were outscored 46-30 in the second half.
Tom Boike, a freshman from Willmar, led Ridgewater with 17 points. Ben Moser and Cory Nietfeld, both freshmen from Paynesville, had 12 points apiece and Rafael Viana sank nine points.
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Vermilion 78, Ridgewater 71
Ridgewater (6-3) 41 30 -- 71
Vermilion (7-1) 32 46 -- 78
RIDGEWATER - 25 FG (6 3-pt); 15-23 FT; 38 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Jarrett Campbell 3, Tim Dreier 5, Ben Moser 12, Derek Eisenschenk 8, Cory Nietfeld 12, Rafael Viana 9, Travis Schultz 2, Chad Mulder 3, Tom Boike 17 ... 3-point shots: Campbell 1, Moser 2, Eisenschenk 1, Nietfeld 1, Viana 1 ... Rebound leaders: Corey Nietfeld 14 ... Assist leaders: Dreier 5 ... Steal leaders: n/a
VERMILION - 27 FG (7 3-pt); 17-25 FT; 45 rebounds; 17 fouls ... Scoring: Adam Kado 19, Steve Birman 7, Eric McPherson 27, John Baker 5, James Dozier 16, Ashley Thomas 4 ... 3-point shots: Kado 3, Birman 2, McPherson 1, Baker 1 ... Rebound, assist and steal leaders not available
