MAYVILLE – University of Jamestown basketball teams had two very different weekends.
UJ’s women completed a difficult two games Saturday with a 72-59 loss to Mayville State at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, a day after losing a 10-point lead and the game at VCSU. The loss dropped the Jimmies to third place in the North Star Athletic Association.
The Jimmie men completed an excellent weekend with a 78-71 win over the Comets, clinching no worse than second place in the NSAA and a spot in the postseason tournament semifinal round. And, UJ is now tied for the league lead after Dickinson State was upset by VCSU 66-65 in Valley City.
Women: Mayville State 72, Jamestown 59
Mayville State (17-7, 7-5 NSAA) began the game with an 11-0 run as the Jimmies’ offense struggled, shooting only 29 percent from the field.
Jamestown (16-7, 6-6) trailed by as much as 12 before coming within three points at halftime, 28-25.
Late in the third quarter, UJ was down only 42-41, but Mayville State maintained the lead through the final quarter.
Alex Page scored 27 points for the Comets with six rebounds and five blocked shots. Mackenzie Hughes had 25 points with seven rebounds, six assists and two steals. Annika Reierson scored 14. Jes Mertens had 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks.
Kate Cordes and Jayden Wiest each scored 10 for the Jimmies, who played without post player Hannah Hagel, who sprained an ankle in Friday’s loss at VCSU.
Jamestown trails Mayville State by one game for second place in the NSAA, and the Comets won the regular season series with this victory, meaning that the Jimmies must finish ahead of MSU to possibly gain the second seed for the postseason tournament.
Men: Jamestown 78, Mayville State 71
Jamestown’s eighth win in the last 10 games assured the Jimmies of no worse than the second seed for the NSAA postseason tournament, meaning that UJ will host a semifinal game at Harold Newman Arena on Saturday, March 1.
Jamestown (14-9, 9-3 NSAA) held an eight-point lead in the first half before Mayville State (15-10, 6-6) rallied for a 34-29 lead. Then, Silas Bennion hit a three-pointer and a jumper to give the Jimmies a 34-34 tie at halftime.
After making just two-of-12 three-pointers in the first half, UJ made eight of 12 in the second half and led by as many as 11.
Bennion scored 25 for the Jimmies with two three-pointers, four rebounds and two assists. Anthony Walters scored 13, all in the second half, with three treys. Jimmy Llinas scored 12 with seven rebounds.
JJ White knocked down seven three-pointers and scored 26 points for Mayville State.
On Friday, Jamestown will play a doubleheader at Dickinson State. Coverage will begin at 6:00 PM on The Voice of the Jimmies, Jamestown 107.1.