Oles hang with Division I Coyotes, but fall 77-61

Mike Ludwig
December 30, 2008

VERMILLION, S.D. - The St. Olaf men's basketball team hung with Division I South Dakota, but lost a 77-61 decision on Tuesday night at DakotaDome.

St. Olaf trailed by only three at the half, 31-28, and led on three occasions in the second frame. The Oles' last lead was 47-46 with 12:23 left on a Mark Wieloch layup.

USD then went on a 19-3 run sparked by nine points by Dylan Grimsley, who finished with a game-best 21 points.

Bobby Fong had 13 points to pace the Oles (3-5, 0-3 MIAC) in the loss.

St. Olaf, playing its first contest since Dec. 10, outrebounded the Coyotes 38-37 and had five leads.

The Oles' Nate Krosschell and Stu Neville each had ten points off the bench.

The win was the Coyotes' seventh straight. USD (10-5) is in its first season as an NCAA Division I institution and is in the midst of a three-game stretch over four days.

Roman Gentry added 20 and Jesse Becker 18 points for USD in the win.

The Oles return to conference play on Saturday with an MIAC road game at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.