Career day for Cordes as Jimmies down Midland

Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) scored a career-high 29 points to help lead the University of Jamestown men's basketball team past Midland (Neb.) University 91-76 Saturday afternoon at Harold Newman Arena.

Cordes made 11 of his 20 shots from the field, including 6-of-8 from three-point range. His previous high of 26 points came against Hastings (Neb.) College on January 2, 2021.

Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND) added 22 points and Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) 14 for UJ, who improve to 21-6 overall and 11-6 in the GPAC.

The first half featured two ties and 11 lead changes as both teams shot the ball well. Midland was 16-for-29 overall, but just 3-of-11 from three-point range, while the Jimmies were 20-for-40 overall but 9-of-15 from beyond the arc.

Midland's largest lead of the first was just three points, but they managed to come back from a seven-point deficit earlier in the half. Ryan Larsen's three-pointer put Midland up 37-35, then a three by Woodford put the Jimmies back in front for good. An 11-2 run to finish the half capped off by John Argue (SO/Houston, TX)'s three saw UJ take a 10-point lead into the break.

The Warriors shot 58 percent to Jamestown's 44 percent in the second half, but the Jimmies continued to make the outside shots when they needed. UJ was 8-of-15 from beyond the arc, with Cordes hitting on 4-of-6 as part of his 17 second-half points.

Devan Praska (SR/Thompson, ND) had eight points off the bench and Devon Schultz (SR/Arlington, MN) pulled down 10 rebounds to go along with six points, also off the bench. Larsen led Midland (14-13, 5-12 GPAC) with 21.

Jamestown is at Morningside (Iowa) University on Friday at 7:45 p.m.