ORANGE CITY, IA (JimmieAthletics.com) – Six players hit for double figures as the 15th-ranked University of Jamestown men’s basketball team withstood a second-half Northwestern College rally, defeating the Red Raiders 98-85 Wednesday evening.
Jon Purintun (SR/Linton, ND) had 22 points and four assists for Jamestown (24-5, 14-5 Great Plains Athletic Conference), which locked up at least a tie for second place and the No. 3 seed in the GPAC Conference Tournament. A win Saturday at home against Morningside (Iowa) would give the Jimmies the second seed.
UJ shot 19-of-34 and made 10 of 11 foul shots on the way to a 55-point first half and 17-point halftime lead. The Jimmies opened the game on a 17-4 run and would eventually lead 28-7 with 11:37 in the half following seven straight points by Terrell Alfred (JR/Orlando, FL).
In the second half, Jamestown led by as many as 16 with 12:50 to play after Alfred converted a three-point play. Northwestern began their comeback with a Craig Sterk three-pointer, and just under six minutes later, cut UJ’s lead to eight.
Kevin Oberweiser (SR/Drummond, MT) drained a three-pointer and Purintun followed with another bucket to push the Jimmie lead back to 13. NWC went on a 13-4 run over the next 3:31 which brought them within four points, 87-83.
Purintun knocked down three of four free throws and added a driving layup, then Isaiah Dobson (JR/Stillwater, MN) hit a back-breaking three-pointer to put the Jimmies ahead 12 with 1:26 to play.
Dobson finished with 20 points, including five three-pointers. Jack Talley (SO/Sioux Falls, SD) chipped in with 15, and Oberweiser finished with 13. Brady Birch (SO/Melrose, MN) (12) and Alfred (11) came off the bench and reached double digits.
Sterk led Northwestern (16-12, 10-9 GPAC) with 21 points. Parker Mulder finished with 18 and Trent Hilbrands 11.