JAMESTOWN, N.D.— Three players reached double figures in scoring as the University of Jamestown men’s basketball team defeated Northern State (S.D.) University 79-64 Saturday evening at Harold Newman Arena.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Jamestown 79, Northern State 64
LOCATION: Harold Newman Arena, Jamestown, N.D.
RECORDS: Jamestown 3-4, Northern State 1-4

Silas Bennion led UJ with 19 points and was 6-of-9 from the field. Jimmy Llinas added 18 points and 8 rebounds, and Owen Hektner finished with 16 points, including 9-of-9 from the free throw line.

Tobi Obiora and Kwat Abdelkarim both had 18 points for Northern State.

The teams traded baskets in the opening part of the contest until a basket by Llinas and a three-pointer by Spencer Barr put Jamestown ahead 13-9.

Bennion drained a three-pointer to give UJ its first double-digit lead of the night with 6:35 left in the first half, then capped off a 7-0 run with another bucket to extend the Jimmie lead to 29-15.    

Jamestown took a 35-25 lead into the half and led 46-36 following a Hektner three. NSU would get as close as 58-52 after Abdelkarim made a three-pointer with 8:23 remaining. Bennion then made a pair of free throws and Anthony Walters knocked down a jumper to build back a 10-point edge.

The largest Jimmie lead came with 28 seconds left after a pair of Will Cordes free throws made it 79-62.

UJ is back in action with two games next weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D.  On Friday, November 29, Jamestown plays MSU-Mankato at 12 p.m., then takes on Augustana University on Saturday, November 30 at 1 p.m.

Photo by Michael Savaloja