WILLMAR -- Central Lakes charged in the second half to overcome Ridgewater College 69-66 on Tuesday in the men's junior college basketball opener.
Ridgewater led by as much as 15, 25-10, in the first half. With sophomore guard Shawn Neu striking for 12 points on the way to a 34-24 Warriors' spread at intermission.
But it all flipped in the second half. The Raiders took control of the boards after Ridgewater had owned a 34-18 advantage in the first half.
Nash Faulk, a freshman out of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half when he drained four 3-pointers.
"They just outscrapped us on the boards," said Ridgewater coach Bob Knutson. "We missed a lot of shots. Our freshmen, well, everyone just got shook a little."
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The Warriors started three freshmen around sophomores Neu and Casey Sussenguth, who finished with a game-high 18 points.
Andy Kalenberg, who started at point guard, played only the first four minutes.
"He tried but he was just too ill," said Knutson.
Tyler Stein finished with 13 points, including 3-of-6 three-pointes. Mike Weber and Nathan Nietfeld each scored eight. Nietfeld's 11 rebounds topped the Warriors, who are off until next Wednesday, when they host the Gustavus Adolphus JV.
Central Lakes 69, Ridgewater 66
Central Lakes (1-0) 24 45 -- 69
Ridgewater (0-1) 34 32 -- 66
CENTRAL LAKES - 25-76 FG (9-26 3-pt); 10-16 FT; 47 rebounds; 21 fouls ... Scoring: Marcus McDonald 2, Marcus Ayala 16, Caleb Nurnberger 3, Nash Faulk 16, Eric Peeters 8, Yain Jama 3, Ahmed Farah 11, Nick Grewe 6, Milos Prijovic 22, Filip Vukasin 2 ... 3-point shots: Ayla 1, Nurnberger 1, Faulk 5, Peeters 1, Farah 1 ... Rebound leaders: Peeters 8, Grewe 6 ... Assist leaders: five with 1 ... Steal leaders: Faulk 2, Jama 3, Farah 2
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RIDGEWATER - 24-65 FG (5-17 3-pt); 13-18 FT; 50 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Shawn Neu 14, Tyler Stein 13, Breck Weber 4, Mike Weber 8, Nathan Nietfeld 8, Caleb DuFrane 1, Casey Sussenguth 18 ... 3-point shots: Neu 1, Stein 3, Sussenguth 1 ... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 11, Stein 8, Sussenguth 6 ... Assist leaders: Neu 4, Stein 3 ... Steal leaders: Neu 2
