WAHPETON, N.D. -- Ridgewater couldn't recover from a slow start Tuesday as the Warriors fell 108-69 to undefeated North Dakota State College of Science in a non-division men's basketball game.
The Wildcats (8-0) shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half --Ridgewater (3-1) connected for only 19 percent (8-for-42) on its shots -- to take a comfortable 51-19 lead at halftime.
Ridgewater, who committed 25 turnovers in its first loss of the early season, netted 50 points in the second half, but NDSCS opened the half on a 12-2 run to expand its lead to 42 points.
"They are just phenomenal athletes," said Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson. "(Ridge) McKeither is a preseason All-American (for them) and they are just so quick. It took us a while to adjust to that level."
McKeither, a 6-foot-5 forward netted 16 points and was one of five Wildcats that scored in double figures.
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Ben Moser came off the bench to score a team-high 16 points for the Warriors and Cory Nietfeld followed with 12 more to go along with his seven rebounds.
NDSCS 108, Ridgewater 69
Ridgewater 19 50 -- 69
NDSCS 51 57 -- 108
RIDGEWATER - 27-77 FG (4-17 3-pt); 11-18 FT; 44 rebounds; 15 fouls ... Scoring: Beau Bredeson 0-1 2-2 2, Ben Moser 6-13 1-2 16, Derek Eisenschenk 2-8 1-2 6, Shawn Neu 1-1 3-4 5, Cory Nietfeld 6-13 0-0 12, Rafael Viana 2-10 2-2 6, Casey Sussenguth 3-12 1-4 7, Tyler Ray 2-6 0-0 4, Dan Hennen 3-6 0-0 6, Tom Boike 2-4 1-2 5 ... 3-point shots: Moser 3, Eisenschenk 1 ... Rebound leaders: Sussenguth 8, Nietfeld 7 ... Assist leaders: Eisenschenk 2, Hennen 2, Boike 2 ... Steal leaders: Bredeson 2, Neu 2, Viana 2
NORTH DAKOTA STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE - 46-87 FG (8-17 3-pt); 8-17 FT; 54 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Nick Walls 2, Jamie Mauch 8, Maurice Foster 11, James Livingston 8, Tyler Miller 12, Fred Savoie 2, Dwayne Rogers 4, Jon Kramer 20, Jonathon Roberts 2, Toriano Madison 4, Ridge McKeither 16, Sylvester Walker 19 ... 3-point shots: Miller 4, Kramer 4 ... Rebound leaders: Walker 7, Mauch 6, Foster 6, Savoie 6 ... Assist leaders: Kramer 7, Mauch 5 ... Steal leaders: McKeither 5, Kramer 3
