We opened our coverage of the Northern Sun by asking whether the Minnesota State (Mankato) men and women could or would repeat as NSIC champions. The women, we said, could and would. Meanwhile, we pegged the Mankato men for 2nd place behind the other MSU, the one at Moorhead.
When we last checked in on the NSIC, we noted that the Concordia St. Paul and Winona men were playing above expectations, while the Southwest State men and women and the CSP women were also playing well. Well, after the games of Saturday, December 21, with the NSIC shutting it down for almost 2 weeks of holiday rest and relaxation, here’s the new state of things.
The Men–The big shocker is Minot State, picked for 10th in the coaches pre-season poll, but off to a 6-0, 15-0 start! Not only that but last week they beat previously undefeated (in the NSIC) MSU-Moorhead 76-52 in Moorhead to take sole possession of 1st place. This is mostly the result of the maturing of 6-8 junior Caleb Van DeGriend from Australia. Last year he scored 7 ppg with 5 boards. Now he’s at 18 and 12.
Moorhead is 2nd at 5-1. Then sharing 3rd through 7th place are the Minnesotans–CSP, Southwest State, Winona, Mankato and St. Cloud, all with 2 losses apiece. All remain in the hunt.
The Women–MSU (Mankato) easily defeated Concordia St. Paul last week at Mankato 85-66, which is significant because CSP came into the game unbeaten. On Saturday Mankato won easily again, this time on the road at Winona, 83-69, to go 7-0. CSP beat UMD by a shocking 82-38 score to get to 6-1. CSP gets another crack at Mankato in St. Paul on Thursday, January 30.
Meanwhile, Southwest State, Mary, Northern and Moorhead all remain in the chase with 2 losses.
Last Week
Last Thursday the key game saw then-unbeatens, the Mankato and Concordia women, square off in Mankato. The Mavs, as we said, won pretty easily 85-66, though it’s true that they led just 43-42 at the half. But Mankato won the 3rd period 23-9 as Natalie Bremer scored 3 straight buckets mid-period–a 3 and then a pair of steals-and-2 to make it 60-48. Also in the period, post Ava Stier had a bucket, 2 FT and an assist; and Mackenzie Schweim added a bucket and a pair of assists.
Then on Friday came the Minot men’s shocker at Moorhead. Again, both teams came in unbeaten, and the Dragons had the home court. No matter. Minot led 30-26 at the half, then quickly took at 38-27 lead as point guard Sam West, a 6-5 junior from Shakopee, got a bucket, 2 throws and an assist. Moorhead never got closer than 9. Van DeGriend went 18-14, West 14-6-6-3.
Then on Saturday, among the men, Moorhead, CSP, Southwest State and Winona all won to claim 2nd (Moorhead) and 3rd place ties. Mankato’s loss to Winona dropped them to 6th place, but also with just the 2 losses. I watched Mankato lead 20-12 early in my first-ever visit to Winona’s McCown Gymnasium, as Justin Eagins and Will Opsahl each hit a pair of 3s. Winona roared back with a 27-5 run led by 6-6 junior forward Isaiah Thompson from Michigan. In about 11:30 of mid-period, he scored 9 points on 3 2s and a 3, 4-of-5 overall, plus 4 rebounds and an assist. He is our MVP. Winona led 51-37 at 15:44 of the 2nd when Mankato made its move and got within 55-54 at 7:42. They never quite caught up, however, as Winona ripped off a 21-10 run as Thompson hit a pair of 3s, Luke Haertle 5 points and Connor Drew 4. Haertle and Drew made 7-of-7 FT during this run, and for the 2nd half Winona made 20-of-20 FT, Mankato 2-of-3. No wonder Mankato coach Matt Marganthaler got T’d up in the final minute.
Thompson’s line was 25-9-3-3 on 10-of-17 shooting. Haertle added 18-5-3-2 and Jhei-R Jones 17-3-5. Eagins was 25-4-8 for Mankato and Kyreese Willingham 18-5-2. Winona had 16 points on turnovers, Mankato just 7.
Among the women, Saturday’s biggest game was probably Minnesota-Crookston’s 64-63 surprise at Moorhead. It was a lost, lost weekend in Moorhead with the previously unbeaten men’s convincing loss to Minot. The women also came into the weekend at 4-0 in the conference, and lost to 3-9 Minot and 5-7 Crookston. The culprit for Crookston was, as always, the amazing 5-foot-1 inch Emma Miller from St. Michael-Albertville, who scored 31 points with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals and even a blocked shot.
But, meanwhile, there I was in Winona watching Mankato dismantle the Warriors 83-69. Mankato ran out to a 14-0 lead and never trailed as Natalie Bremer and Destinee Bursch each scored 5 early points. Mankato also won the middle periods 47-29 to expand a 21-16 lead to 68-45. Bremer did a little bit of everything for Mankato, as usual, finished with 15 points, 10 boards, 3 assists and 4 steals. Post Ava Stier was a presence in the paint with 15 points and 8 boards, while Destinee Bursch added 14 points and 3 steals. Mankato’s stock in trade continues to be turning the other guys over and they outscored Winona on POT 28-10. Mankato’s win is especially impressive when you consider that they did it without Hannah Herzig and Emily Russo.
Recap
The Men
Minot 6-0, 15-0 Mid-season MVP Caleb Van De Griend 6-8 junior from Australia, averaging 18 and 12
Moorhead 5-1, 10-2
Concordia St.Paul, Southwest State, Winona all 5-2, 10-3
Mankato and St. Cloud 4-2 and 8-6
The Women
Mankato 7-0 and 11-2 MVP Natalie Bremer 5-11 junior Lake City, MN, 21-7-2-3
Concordia St. Paul 6-1, 12-1
Southwest State 5-2, 11-2
Mary 4-2, 7-2
Northern State 4-2, 7-5
Moorhead 4-2, 6-6