Men's basketball team off to a rough start

11/23/2009
By Joe Stark
Sports Editor

The UW-Superior men’s basketball team got off to a rough start to the season on Saturday, losing 78-76 to Martin Luther College.

With UWS leading 40-35 at halftime, and most of the game for that matter, Martin Luther did everything they could to keep the game close in the second half, which set up a storybook ending for the Knights and a heartbreaking loss for the ‘Jackets.  

After sophomore Ben Aalfs (Hutchinson, MN) tied up the game with 21 seconds left for UWS, Martin Luther came storming down the court, and Greg Holzhueter, who lead the Knights with 18 points, sank a last second jumper to deflate the energy in Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium’s men home opener.  The Knights finished the game on a 10-3 run to steal the game from UWS.

Senior Dwight Hill (Chicago, IL) led UWS with 18 points and added 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while junior Jake Smith (Rhinelander, WI) was efficient going 6-10 from the floor and scoring 14 points.  Three other ‘Jackets would finish in double digits, including juniors Dan Culy (Rice Lake, WI) and Greg Roeder (Mercer, WI) and sophomore Dustin Ritchie (Superior). 

UWS didn’t do their job to keep the Knights off the glass, getting out-rebounded 44-27 while giving up 20 second chance points off of 17 offensive rebounds.

The Yellowjackets return to the court on Tuesday night as they travel to Duluth, MN to take on the UMD Bulldogs at 8:00 p.m.