SIOUX FALLS, SD – It wasn’t a win for Jamestown Jimmie Men’s Basketball, but it was a message sent for the future.
Jamestown came back from a double-digit deficit to tie the game in the last three minutes Friday before losing to defending NCAA Division II national champion Minnesota State 85-80 in the Bill Gross Classic at Augustana University’s Elmen Center.
UJ (3-5), who will join the NSIC, Minnesota State’s conference, next season, trailed 71-59 with just under nine minutes left before a 17-5 run that culminated with a Cole Glasgow putback that tied the game at 76-76 with 2:16 left.
A Kyreese Willingham layup and Justin Eagins three-pointer for Minnesota State (3-4) gave the Mavericks an 81-76 lead with 1:01 to go. Will Cordes hit two free throws for the Jimmies with 51 seconds left, then Owen Hektner converted a Jimmy Llinas block into a jumper with 17 seconds left and an 81-80 MSU advantage.
Two Willingham free throws with 14 seconds on the clock put the Maverick lead back to three at 83-80. Hektner then had a good look at a tying three-pointer with two seconds left, but missed and two free throws by Harrison Braudis sealed the game for Minnesota State.
Minnesota State led by as many as 10 points in the first half before the Jimmies’ Spencer Barr ended a run of 12 straight points with a layup and free throw for a 25-23 UJ advantage with 8:49 to play. Minnesota State held on to a 43-42 halftime lead.
A Llinas layup for the first points of the second half gave the Jimmies their last lead at 44-43. Minnesota State then took a 12-point lead three times before the Jimmies came back.
Eagins scored 24 points, including six three-pointers, and had five assists to lead Minnesota State. Willingham notched 20 points with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Caden Kirkman dropped in 14 points with five rebounds.
Llinas had his ninth double-double as a Jimmie with 17 points and 12 rebounds. He also had four blocks, four assists and a steal. Anthony Walters scored 12 and drained two three-pointers. Silas Bennion poured in 11 with six assists. Ayden Stainbrook and Cole Glasgow each scored 10 points.
Jamestown shot 47 percent from the floor and 11-of-14 free throws.
On Saturday, the Jimmies will play the host team of this event, Augustana. Coverage will begin at 12:30 PM on The Voice of the Jimmies, Jamestown 107.1.