The University of Wisconsin-Superior and the Yellowjacket men's basketball team will host the 4th Annual Merrill Thompson Tip-Off Classic this weekend at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.
The event is once again sponsored by National Bank of Commerce.
"We're proud to once again be hosting the Merrill Thompson Tip-Off Classic at UW-Superior. It's a weekend that we look forward to because it is the first time that we get to play on our home court and show our incredible fans what they can look forward to during the season," UWS coach Paul Eberhardt said. "We love being able to bring high quality basketball to Superior and our campus on Thanksgiving weekend, and I think everyone will enjoy what this tournament will have to offer."
The tournament opens Saturday with Concordia College and St. Scholastica playing at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Yellowjackets taking on Finlandia at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the third-place game is at 3 p.m., followed by the championship game at 5 p.m.
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"We also want to make sure that we thank National Bank of Commerce for their continued support of the event," Eberhardt said. "Bruce Thompson and National Bank of Commerce are extremely generous with their resources to help us put on the tournament and honor one of the biggest basketball fans that UWS has ever seen."
All kids eighth grade and under will be admitted free.
UWS went 1-1 in last year's tournament, losing to Concordia 95-90 in overtime and defeating St. Scholastica 72-54. UW-River Falls went 2-0 with wins over St. Scholastica and Concordia.
UWS 86, CSS 72
The Yellowjackets tuned up for the Tip-Off Classic by defeating the College of St. Scholastica Saints Monday night before a crowd of 210 at the Reif Gym in Duluth.
UWS shot better than 50 percent from the field, including 5-of-11 from 3-point range, to improve to 1-2 on the season.
Jarrod Peterson buried three of his five 3-point attempts en route to 32 points to lead all scorers, and Bronson Byrne added 17 for the Yellowjackets, who shot an impressive 89.7 percent (35 of 39) from the free-throw line. Byrne also pulled down 14 rebounds and blocked five shots.
Jake Naslund had 17 points to lead the Saints (0-5), who were 29 of 82 from the field (35.4 percent) and made just seven of 29 long-range tries.
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Superior led 37-27 at the half, then quickly made it a 46-32 game early in the second half. The Saints managed to get within 58-50 with nine minutes remaining, but the Yellowjackets went on a 15-2 run for a 73-52 lead with 4:42 remaining.
St. Scholastica got within single digits a couple of times down the stretch, but UWS was able to seal away the victory at the free-throw line.
UW-SUPERIOR (1-2)
Jarrod Peterson, 6-11 17-17 32; Bronson Byrne, 8-11 1-2 17; Tilyn Hollis, 4-6 6-6 15; Harrison Woods, 1-1 4-4 6; Johnathan Scott, 2-3 0-0 5; Aaron Corry, 1-6 2-2 4; Zach Schradle, 0-1 4-4 4; Brian Lindblom, 1-6 0-2 2; John Denny, 0-0 1-2 1; Dan Lochner, 0-0 0-0 0; Caleb Burch, 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-45 35-39 86.
ST. SCHOLASTICA (0-5)
Jake Naslund 7-20 1-3 17; Steve Golobich 5-14 0-0 11; Trevor Morlock 4-15 0-3 10; Nathan Carlson 4-8 2-2 10; LaMonte Hall 4-7 0-0 9; Andrew Laughlin 2-7 1-2 5; Tyler Rosenberger 2-3 0-0 5; Mike Spoden 0-6 3-4 3; Julius Johnson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 29-82 7-14 72.
UW-Superior 37 49 -- 86
St. Scholastica 27 45 -- 72
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3-point goals -- UWS 5-11 (Peterson, 3-5; Scott, 1-2; Hollis, 1-1; Lindblom, 0-3), CSS 7-29 (Naslund 2-10; Morlock 2-6; Hall 1-3; Golobich 1-9; Rosenberger 1 -1). Fouled out -- None. Rebounds -- UWS 46 (Byrne, 14), CSS 35 (Morlock 7; Carlson 7). Assists -- UWS 11 (Peterson, 3; Hollis, 3), CSS 17 (Morlock 5; Hall 5). Total fouls -- UWS 15, CSS 25. Technical fouls -- UWS-team, CSS-team. A-210
