The Thomas More University men’s basketball team (5-2, 1-0 G-MAC) secured their first G-MAC win of the season with a decisive 78-62 victory over the Northwood University Timberwolves (2-5, 0-2 G-MAC) on Wednesday night at the Northwood University Fieldhouse.
Strong Start Fuels First-Half Lead
The Saints got off to a quick start, with junior Kyle Ross knocking down a hook shot to tie the game at 2-2 early in the first half. Junior Casey George followed with a floating jump shot to put the Saints ahead 11-7.
The Saints continued to build their lead, with junior Wyatt Vieth draining a 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 24-16 with just under six minutes remaining in the half. Graduate student Reid Jolly capped the first half with a 3-pointer of his own, giving the Saints a comfortable 36-26 lead heading into the break.
Jolly led the Saints with 12 points and six rebounds in the first half, while Jacob Jones paced the team with three assists. The Saints shot 46.4% from the field and 35.3% from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
Saints Dominate Second Half
The Saints carried their momentum into the second half, with Jacob Jones hitting a jumper to extend the lead to 39-26 just over a minute into the period. Jolly continued his hot streak, burying a 3-pointer to make it 50-41 with just over 13 minutes to play.
The Saints continued to control the game, with first-year Nathan Dudukovich draining a 3-pointer to put the team ahead 78-60 with just over three minutes remaining. Jolly added a jumper with 34 seconds left to seal the victory for the Saints.
Jolly Leads the Way
Jolly led the Saints across the board with a season-high double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds. He also added three assists. Dudukovich followed with 12 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Jones contributed seven points, four rebounds, and a team-high five assists.
Overall Performance
The Saints shot a combined 48.4% from the field, 40% from 3-point range, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. They outrebounded the Timberwolves 42-36 and forced 14 turnovers.
Up Next
The Saints return to action on Saturday, December 2, for their G-MAC home opener against the Cedarville Yellow Jackets. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET at the Connor Convocation Center.
