Second-half scoring drought costs Jimmies at No. 22 Briar Cliff

SIOUX CITY, Iowa-- The 22nd-ranked Briar Cliff University Chargers shot 61 percent in the first half and 54 percent for the game as they defeated the University of Jamestown men's basketball team 78-64 Saturday afternoon.

The Jimmies shot 52 percent in the first half as both teams combined for 88 points and were each 7-of-14 from three-point range.

In the opening ten minutes, UJ's largest lead was four points and Briar Cliff's three as neither team could create any separation. Will Cordes (SO/Shakopee, MN) made a three-pointer to give Jamestown a 30-29 edge, then Marc Kjos (JR/Lake City, MN) and Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) each scored to make it 34-29.

Briar Cliff responded with an 8-0 run to pull in front by three points, then after Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) tied the game with a three on the next Jimmie possession, finished the half by scoring 10 of the final 14 points to lead 47-41 at the break.

Jamestown fell behind by as many as 12 just over five minutes into the second half, but cut the deficit in half on baskets by Cordes, Devon Schultz (SR/Arlington, MN), and Mason Walters (JR/Jamestown, ND). The Chargers opened up another double-digit lead only to see UJ rally within three after John Argue (SO/Houston, TX)'s basket with 10:21 remaining.

Those would be the Jimmies' last points for nearly six minutes, until Kjos scored to stop a streak of nine straight by BCU. Following Kjos's basket, the Chargers tacked on seven more while UJ went another 4:19 without a point.

Walters led four Jamestown players in double figures with 17 points. Cordes added 15 and five assists, while Woodford finished with 12 and Kjos 10. Walters also had a team-high seven rebounds and three steals.

UJ, now 22-7 overall and 12-7 in the GPAC, host Dordt (Iowa) University next Saturday in the regular-season finale.