Jimmies beat Northwestern to get back in win column

Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND) scored 37 points and pulled down 16 rebounds to help lead the University of Jamestown men's basketball team to an 85-74 win over Northwestern (Iowa) College Saturday afternoon at Harold Newman Arena.

The win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Raiders, who fell to 17-8 overall and 9-6 in the GPAC.

Walters connected on a career-high seven of 14 three-pointers as the Jimmies shot 13-of-29 overall as a team from beyond the arc. Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) was also in double figures with 20 points, making four of five three-point attempts.

Northwestern led 4-3 early on, but five straight points from Walters put UJ ahead by four and the Jimmies never looked back.

Alex Van Kalsbeek brought the Raiders level at 18, but Cordes knocked down a three, Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) hit a pair of free throws, and Walters worked his way inside for another bucket to give the Jimmies a seven-point lead. Devan Praska (SR/Thompson, ND)'s three made it 42-31 with 1:03 before halftime, Jamestown's largest lead of the half.

Eight straight points by Van Kalsbeek made it 51-48 Jimmies, but back-to-back threes by Walters quickly pushed the lead back to nine points, and UJ would keep the lead between eight and 13 points the rest of the way.

Both teams shot over 50 percent in the second half, with Northwestern hitting on 19 of 32 shots and Jamestown 18 of 35.

Van Kalsbeek scored 30 and grabbed eight rebounds for the Raiders, who also got 19 points from Matt Onken and 13 from Trent Hilbrands.

Jamestown, now 19-6 overall and 9-6 in the GPAC, are at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Wednesday.