Huge second-half run lifts Jimmies past Briar Cliff

The University of Jamestown men's basketball team went on a 35-7 second-half run on the way to a 74-57 win over Briar Cliff (Iowa) University Tuesday night at Harold Newman Arena.

Jamestown moves to 9-3 overall and 5-2 in the GPAC while Briar Cliff falls to 5-7 overall and 3-5 in the conference.

Briar Cliff got out to an 11-4 lead early, but UJ scored nine of the next 11 points to tie the game at 13.

Ethan Freidel scored the Chargers' next eight points to give the visitors a 21-13 lead at the 12:08 mark of the first.

BCU stayed ahead until a pair of Allante' Pickens (SR/Chicago, IL) free throws put UJ ahead 32-31 with 2:49 before the half.

The Jimmies trailed 35-34 at the break, but tied the game at 40 following Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN)'s basket with 15:50 to play.

The Birch basket started a 17-2 run, with the next 15 points for the Jimmies coming from Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) as the lead stretched to 55-42 with 10:34 to play.

A Nick Hoyt three-pointer brought the Chargers within 10 points at 55-45, but Will Cordes (FR/Shakopee, MN) answered with a three of his own to start an 18-2 run. Birch capped off the run, which saw UJ lead 73-47 at the 4:38 mark.

BCU ended the game on a 10-1 run to avoid the 20-plus point defeat.

Walters finished with 33 points on 14-of-15 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. Pickens scored all of his 16 points in the first half to also finish in double figures. Walters and Cordes each dished out four assists.

Freidel and Quinten Vasa each had 11 points to lead Briar Cliff.

UJ connected on a season-low 5-of-22 three-point attempts, but were 24-of-34 inside the arc. Jamestown outrebounded Briar Cliff 36-26 and had a 21-11 edge in points off turnovers.

The Jimmies are back in action Friday night when they host Concordia (Neb.) University at 8 p.m.