VIRGINIA -- The Ridgewater men's basketball team flexed its rebounding muscles Friday, which led to an 84-66 win over Mesabi Range in the first game of the Mesabi Range Invitational.
The Warriors (2-0) outboarded Mesabi Range, 53-37.
"They were so aggressive against a big, strong physical team," Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson said of his team. "I'm really pleased. We beat a really good team."
The Warriors held a 39-36 halftime lead that Knutson said should have been bigger, but Ridgewater struggled from the free-throw line.
But in the second half, Ridgewater exploded and picked up the slack from the stripe, finishing 28-for-39, doubling Mesabi Range's output (14-for-20).
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Ten players scored at least two points for the Warriors. Freshman Casey Sussenguth led the way, recording 19 points (10-of-14 from the line) and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Sophomore Cory Nietfeld added 14 points and nine boards, sophomore Derek Eisenschenk and freshman Adam Lindblad followed with 11 points each, and sophomore Rafael Viana scored 10 points. Freshman Beau Bredeson led the team with five assists.
Ridgewater plays Hibbing at 4 p.m. today.
Ridgewater 84, Mesabi Range 66
Ridgewater 39 -- 84
Mesabi Range 36 -- 66
RIDGEWATER - 26-70 FG (4-16 3-pt); 28-39 FT; 53 rebounds; 22 fouls ... Scoring: Cory Nietfeld 3-9 8-10 14, Rafael Viana 5-17 0-1 10, Casey Sussenguth 4-10 10-14 19, Beau Bredeson 0-1 2-2 2, Derek Eisenschenk 4-6 2-5 11, Adam Lindblad 2-8 6-6 11, Ben Moser 4-10 0-0 8, Thomas Boike 2-4 0-0 4, Shawn Neu 1-1 0-1 2, Chad Mulder 1-2 0-0 3 ... 3-point shots: Sussenguth 1, Eisenschenk 1, Lindblad 1, Mulder 1 ... Rebound leaders: Sussenguth 11, Nietfeld 9, Viana 9 ... Assist leaders: Bredeson 5 ... Steal leaders: Nietfeld 2, Moser 2 ... Blocks: Sussenguth 3
MESABI RANGE - 23-65 FG (6-20 3-pt); 14-20 FT; 37 rebounds; 30 fouls ... Scoring: Sam Kenyi 9-15 11-13 29, Isaac Roll 1-4 0-0 2, Jonathan Michlaski 1-1 0-1 3, Tremain Hill 8-19 2-2 23, Aaron Norman 1-6 1-2 3, Abdullah Ojullu 2-7 0-0 4, Jay Carey 1-5 0-0 2 ... 3-point shots: Michlaski 1, Hill 5 ... Rebound leaders: Kenyi 10 ... Assist leaders: Kenyi 3, Hill 3 ... Steal leaders: Hill 2
