Blue Devils on short end of high scoring contest

Bethany Lutheran College 103, UW-Stout 99

MENOMONIE (November 26, 2019) - A combined 10 players from both teams scored in double digits and in the end, Bethany Lutheran College out-scored UW-Stout 103-99 in another high scoring affair for the Blue Devils Tuesday on Dewey Mintz Court in Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Vikings (3-2) held the lead over the Blue Devils (2-3) for more than 35 minutes, including 16 minutes in the first half and the VIkings held a 47-42 halftime lead.

The Blue Devils tied the game at 47 with a minute off the second half clock. The Vikings' Jared Milinkovich hit a 3-pointer to give Bethany the three point lead, but Stout would come back to tie the game at 51 each with 17:52 on the clock. But the Vikings would go on an 8-0 run. Stout got as close as 72-71 at the nine minute mark, but Vikings would balloon that lead up to 12 points, 99-87, with 1:40 remaining.

A 3-pointer by the game's leading scorer, Jon Ciriacks, cut the lead to 99-90. Two free throws by the Vikings' Cire Mayfield made it an 11 point, 101-92 game.

Stout would work to get the score as close as two points, going on a 7-0 run in the final minute.  Josh Mericle hit a layup, followed by a 3-pointer by Cliff McCray with 29 seconds left. McCray nabbed a steal and layed the ball in to pull Stout to within four. The Vikings had a chance to made it a six point game, but missed both free throws. Mericle went the distance to pull Stout to within 101-99 with 14 seconds left. The Vikings' Milinkovich hit a pair of charity shots to make it a final four point game. 

Both teams did well at the free throw line. The Vikings hit 21-of-30 free throws and the Blue Devils were 22-of-26. The Vikings held the edge at the 3-point line, making 12-of-28 to Stout's 9-of-21.

Ciriacks scored a career-best 35 points, going 10-of-27 from the floor, 4-of-8 from outside and 11-of-13 from the line. Mericle finished with a career-best 15 points, Kyle Jackson scored 13, TYreese Alexander scored 12 and McCray finished with 10.

The game was Stout's fourth consecutive game of scoring 90 points or more. 

Milinkovich topped the Vikings with 22 points. Mayfield tossed in 17 points, Trenton Krueger 12, Justin Schrupp 12 - all on 3-pointers - and Brian Smith had 10.

Stout will be at Alma College, Saturday, Nov. 30, then will be at Saginaw Valley State, Sunday, Dec. 1 in an exhibition contest with the NCAA Division II team.