MW MENS BASKETBALL: Spartans take down Bluejays

FERGUS FALLS — Tyler Aquallo put up 19 points for the Bluejays men’s basketball team in an 81-70 loss to the Minnesota State Community and Technical College-Fergus Falls Spartans in a men’s Southern Conference basketball game Wednesday.

The Bluejays fell behind early in the first half after the Spartans made multiple 3-point baskets. At halftime Minnesota West trailed 37-25 after shooting just 30 percent from the floor in the half.

“We were missing easy shots in the paint that we can’t miss if we want to win,” MW coach Justin Heckenlaible said. “We were not able to finish throughout the game.”

The Spartans were able to get into the bonus early in the second half and took advantage of their trips to the free throw line. Fergus Falls went 24 of 32 from the line in the game, while Minnesota West made just 15 free throws.

“You just can’t leave those easy baskets on the floor, especially on the road in conference play,” Heckenlaible said. “We need to finish better as a whole. We also can’t get in that big of a hole in a game and hope to come back, especially on the road.”

The Bluejays had two other shooters in double-digits, with Mitch Hopkins picking up 12 points and Luke Roddy adding 10 points in the game. Tyson Langdeau and Jackson Seitzinger both picked up seven points for MW, while Orie Brown had six points.

“We have to continue to play better and improve if we want to get wins on the road,” Heckenlaible said. “It is never easy to win on the road, but we need to get those wins. And I think we can do it.”

Minnesota West (7-6, 0-1) takes on Western Technical College on the road Saturday in the second game of a women’s/men’s doubleheader.

MW 25 45 — 70

FF 37 44 — 81

Tags: minnesota west sports, sports, mens, basketball