VIRGINIA -- The Ridgewater Warriors had an impressive debut but fell to a good Mesabi Range squad 103-90 on Friday to launch the men's basketball season.
Cory Nietfeld, freshman from Paynesville, debuted with 21 points and nine rebounds. Second-year guard Tim Dreier had his best college game hitting 9 of 14 shots to finish with 20 points and Derek Eisenchenck netted 18 points, helped by 4 of 8 shooting from the arc.,
Coach Bob Knutson said Ralph Viana, Tom Boike and Micah Oates-Jenkins also looked good.
Ridgewater trailed 21-7 early but battle back to lead 45-43 at halftime.
The Norsemen scored 61 points in the second half, fueled by 22 of 33 free throws.
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The Warriors were 5 of 8 for the game at the line.
"Mesabi is a good team," said Knutson. "They have a lot of good athletes but I liked our gutsy comeback in the first half."
Mesabi Range 103, Ridgewater 90
Ridgewater (0-1) 45 45 -- 90
Mesabi Range (1-1) 43 60 -- 103
RIDGEWATER - 38-82 FG (9-32 3-pt); 5-8 FT; 43 rebounds; 33 fouls ... Scoring: Cory Nietfeld 9-17 3-5 21, Ralph Viana 3-10 2-2 8, Chad Mulder 2-9 0-0 4, Tim Drier 9-14 0-0 20, Derek Eisenchenk, 7-11 0-0 18, Micah Oates-Jenkins 2-5 0-0 5, Jarrett Campbell 3-6 0-0 7, Ben Moser 1-5 1-1 3, Tom Boike 2-5 0-0 4 ... 3-point shots: Viana 1-4, Dreier 2-4, Eisenchenk 4-8, Jenkins 1-3, Campbell 1-3 ... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 9, Boike 5 ... Assist leaders: Dreier 6 ... Steal leaders: Niefeld 5
MESABI RANGE - 37-77 FG (7-16 3-pt); 22-33 FT; 44 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Patillo 4, Quentin Barfold 27, Ryan Ostendorf 19, Don Kossena 2, Corey Mountian 15, Trvon Taylor 12, Doo Yocker 10, Brandon Goolz 9 ... 3-point shots: Yocker 2-8, Barfold 1-1, Mountain 3-7, Taylor 1-1 ... Rebound leaders: Ostendorf 10 ... Assist leaders: Ostendorg 5, Barffold 8... Steal leaders: Taylor 4
