WILLMAR -- A decisive advantage in rebounding help the Ridgewater men's basketball team pick up its first win of the season by upending the Gustavus Adolphus JV team 78-57 Wednesday evening.
The Warriors were credited with grabbing 56 rebounds compared to 39 for the Gusties. Nathan Nietfeld pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds for Ridgewater (1-1).
Nietfeld was also one of 10 players that scored for the Warriors with Mike Weber leading the way with 15. Nietfeld and Casey Sussenguth both followed with 12 points and Shawn Neu added 10 more.
Ridgewater owned a 44-30 lead at halftime and limited the Gusties to just nine field goals in the second half.
"We played defense with a lot more intensity," said Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson. "We played a lot harder from start to finish."
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The Warriors didn't shoot the ball particularly well (30-for-78 from the field and 14-for-23 from the free-throw line) but their defense forced 20 turnovers that led to 27 points. Both Weber and Sussenguth had three steals. Sussenguth also dished out eight assists.
Alex Ewing had 14 points to pace the Gusties, who shot just 36 percent from the field.
Ridgewater returns to action today as they host the St. John's JV squad at 8 p.m.
Ridgewater 78, Gustavus JV 57
Gustavus Adolphus JV 30 27 -- 57
Ridgewater 44 34 -- 78
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS JV - 22-62 FG (3-17 3-pt); 10-15 FT; 39 rebounds; 19 fouls ... Scoring: Muresuk Mena 13, Alex Ewing 14, Landin Shrowyah 3, Ryan Nett 12, Erik Jacobs 3, Ryan Virnig 8, Keenan Obayuwana 4 ... 3-point shots: Mena 1, Shrowyah 1, Jacobs 1 ... Rebound leaders: Mena 5, Ewing 5 ... Assist leaders: Mena 4 ... Steal leaders: Mena 3, Shrowyah 3
RIDGEWATER - 30-78 FG (4-12 3-pt); 14-23 FT; 56 rebounds; 13 fouls ... Scoring: Shawn Neu 10, Tyler Stein 8, Andy Kalenberg 6, Breck Weber 6, Leonard Gabbert 5, Mike Weber 15, Jeff Ruschen 1, Caleb DuFrane 3, Casey Sussenguth 12, Nathan Nietfeld 12 ... 3-point shots: Neu 2, B. Weber 1, Gabbert 1 ... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 10, B. Weber 6, Sussenguth 6, M. Weber 5 ... Assist leaders: Sussenguth 8 ... Steal leaders: M. Weber 3, Sussenguth 3
