WILLMAR -- Ridgewater bumped and pushed with Rochester Wednesday, leading to an 82-78 win in MCAC South Division men's basketball action.
"It was a really rough, physical game," said Warriors coach Bob Knutson. "I was really pleased with the way we played."
The Yellowjackets (8-3, 18-7) started the game with full-court pressure that took the Warriors (7-4, 15-9) a little getting used to, but Ridgewater held fast to a 47-44 halftime lead.
Ridgewater broke down the press in the second half and was able to use its slight rebounding edge to get 17 total second-chance points.
"We were able to hit a lot of buckets in transition," Knutson said. "We were able to finish and capitalize on their mistakes in the backcourt."
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Ben Moser led the Warriors with 25 points. Cory Nietfeld had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Casey Sussenguth chipped in 13 points and nine boards.
Ridgewater 82, Rochester 78
Rochester (8-3, 18-7) 44 34 -- 78
Ridgewater (15-9) 47 35 -- 82
ROCHESTER - 31-79 FG (7-24 3-pt); 9-17 FT; 50 rebounds; 26 fouls ... Scoring: Allen McGaga 10, Chet Reilly 3, Trevor Larson 2, Tyler Speer 3, Alex Guillen 1, Tyler Drinkall 9, Josh Hagan 2, Josh Reynolds 14, Kurt Koening 25, Brandon Milde 2, Kavon Martin 6 ... 3-point shots: Reynolds 4, Speer 1, Drinkall 1, Reilly 1 ... Rebound leaders: Koening 15, Reynolds 6, Drinkall 6 ... Assist leader: Drinkall 3 ... Steal leaders: Hagan 2, Speer 2
RIDGEWATER - 29-70 FG (3-14 3-pt); 21-36 FT; 56 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Shawn Neu 2, Ben Moser 25, Beau Bredeson 5, Dan Hennen 3, Chad Mulder 3, Derek Eisenschenk 2, Cory Nietfeld 23, Casey Sussenguth 13 ... 3-point shots: Bredeson 1, Mulder 1, Nietfeld 1 ... Rebound leaders: Nietfeld 9, Sussenguth 9, Moser 6 ... Assist leader: Sussenguth 4 ... Steal leaders: Bredeson 2, Nietfeld 2
