DULUTH, Minn. – The Northland College Men's Basketball team dropped its first game of the season 74-84 to the College of Saint Scholastica, Wednesday night in Duluth, Minn. Drew Lindberg led the scoring for the Jacks with 23 points in the season opener.
 
Senior Jordan Brennan scored the first points of the season on a layup. The first four baskets for Northland came from different players resulting in an early 8-4 lead. Coming off the bench Marvin McBroom knocked down the Jacks' first three to maintain the four-point lead. A three-pointer from the Saints gave them their first lead of the game at 16-15 with just over 11 minutes left in the half. Lindberg responded with a three-pointer of his own to give the lead back to NC. That was the last time Northland saw the lead with CSS going on a 10-point run. The Jacks were able to pull within six with a pair of made free throws from Brennan but entered the half down 29-39.
 
Coming out of the half Jahlani Thornton scored the first two baskets and the first three rebounds of the half. The Saints extended their lead with nine unanswered points to go up 52-35. In the final five minutes, the Jacks pulled within 10 with a free through from Langston Flowers. Lindberg cut the lead to six after a three-pointer to make the score 73-67. That was the closest NC would get to the lead in the second half and St. Scholastica knocked down its free throws to win 84-74.
 
Lindberg led the scoring in the game with 23 points a new career-high. Flowers and Jaden Jones also reached double-figures with 10 points apiece. Thornton shot 4-for-5 from the field and 1-for-2 from the free throw line to finish with nine points. Thornton led Northland with eight rebounds. The LumberJacks had 11 assists with Flowers, Stephen Kesti and Damian Cejka all with two. Jones and Thornton reached recorded a block.
 
The Jacks will travel to Bemidji, Minn., to take on Division II Bemidji State University on Tuesday for a 6 p.m., tipoff.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.