ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The Northland College Men's Basketball team was defeated 91-55 by Crown College in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon in St. Bonifacius, Minn.
 
The LumberJacks got off to a good start, with Donovan Washington scoring the opening basket. Stephen Kesti followed it up with a three-pointer, and Jahlani Thornton put the Jacks up 8-4. The Polars responded, taking their first lead at 9-8. Ari Pierson scored his first basket to put NC back on top, but Crown then scored nine unanswered points to build an advantage. Damian Cejka stopped the rally with a deep shot, but a new run for Crown began shortly afterward. Northland struggled to match the Polars' scoring pace and trailed 55-24 at halftime.
 
It took the Jacks two minutes to score their first point of the second half, coming from a free throw by Cejka. Thornton and Pierson followed with points for Northland. The LumberJacks were able to match Crown's scoring pace in the second half, but the first-half deficit was too much to overcome, and they fell 91-55.
 
Kesti and Thornton led the scoring for Northland, each with 10 points. Pierson rounded out the top three with nine points. Washington, Cejka, and Pierson each recorded two assists. Defensively, Washington grabbed six rebounds, and Kesti tallied three blocks.
 
The Jacks enter their final week of play, starting with a road game at the University of Northwestern at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
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 and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.