ST. PAUL, Minn. – Junior forward
Wyatt Ferm (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) scored a game-high 26 points, as the Macalester College men's basketball team earned its first win of the season, 71-64 over Northland College Monday night in the Leonard Center. The Scots improve to 1-2 on the year, while the Lumberjacks fall to 1-3.
The first half was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than four points. A three-pointer by senior guard
Gunnar Goeden (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) and a basket by Ferm put Macalester ahead, 26-25 near the end of the first half. Harrison Lucas answered with a jumper with seven seconds left to send Northland into the halftime break with a 27-26 advantage. Ferm and Northland's Benny Larry Jr. led their teams in the first half with 11 points apiece.
The game remained tight until the Scots used three three-pointers by first year guard
Aidan Toner-Rodgers (Sebastopol, Calif./Analy) in a 9-1 run that put Macalester on top, 43-35 with 14 minutes to play. With the Scots leading 53-44 with 8:24 on the clock, the Lumberjacks responded with a 14-7 run that brought the visitors to within two, 60-58. But a three-pointer from senior guard
Brett Olson (New London, Minn./New London-Spicer) sparked a 7-0 spree that pushed the lead back to nine, 67-58 with two minutes remaining. Northland never came closer than seven points the rest of the way, as the Scots wrapped up their first victory of the season.
Ferm shot 11-of-17 from the field and finished with 26 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. First year forward
Jackson Henningfield (Lake Mary, Fla./Lyman) notched his first double-double as a Scot with 12 points and 11 rebounds to go with three assists and three blocks, while Toner-Rodgers scored 11 points for the second consecutive game. Olson made it four Macalester players in double-figures with 10 points. Defensively, Goeden had four steals to go with seven points and three assists.
Lucas led the Lumberjacks with 15 points.
Macalester begins MIAC play on Wednesday, Nov. 29 with a home game against St. Olaf. The opening tip is set for 7:00 p.m. in the Leonard Center.
