ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. --- Crown Men's Basketball toppled the reigning UMAC Champions Bethany Lutheran College on Wednesday, 95-88. Crown led most of the game, with only two lead changes in the contest, but Bethany was always within reach of the Storm, which made for a close game and a great night for Storm fans. This is Crown's 14th win of the season, the most ever in a single year for the Storm in their NCAA era. 

For the second straight game, junior forward Timothy Wendel scored exactly 25 points and was the game's high-point man. Wendel had an overall great performance, with eight rebounds, five assists, four steals, and a block. Wendel shot 50% from the field and three-point range, and over 90% from the free throw line. 

"Everyone stepped up, we've been playing good team basketball and it feels good to share the ball and shots," said Wendel. "That game was a crucial one, we needed it to get out of the danger zone. We don't want to be in fourth; we want to be in third and get that bye to get some extra rest."

As Wendel referenced, the Storm are currently sitting in the #4 seed for the upcoming UMAC Playoffs. Five schools make the UMAC Conference Tournament, and the first-round consists of a wildcard game with the #4 seed hosting the #5 seed. The winner of that contest heads to the face the #1 seed a couple days later, so elevating past that #4 seed would give the Storm a few extra days of rest (and a presumably easier second round matchup). Currently, St. Scholastica is above the Storm by a single game, and Northland College is below by a single game. The Storm face both teams in their remaining three games.

Senior Josh Volness scored 22 points on only ten field goal attempts, splashing three of four three-point attempts and hitting all seven attempts from the free throw line. This is Volness's fifth straight game in double-figures, and he has now made 27 of his last 28 free-throw attempts. For the second straight game, Volness passed for seven assists. He also grabbed five boards in the contest. 

"It's a big win for us, they're second in [the] conference," said Volness. "We had a tough game at their place so it's good to get a win against a very tough opponent, and hopefully, we'll see them in the playoffs." 

Senior guard Keegan Oyugi had a great game in the contest as well, with 18 points on 50% shooting from the field. Oyugi had the game's best +/- score with a +17 mark, the only Storm player in the positive double figures. Needless to say, good things happen when Oyugi is on the court. 

Junior Gunnar Ledin had 16 points in the contest, and senior Logan Strand had eight points (2/3 from downtown). Junior Kole Jusczak had his minutes limited by foul trouble but still had a game-high two blocks. 

The Storm got off to a rocky start, with two straight Bethany Lutheran possessions ending with an offensive rebound leading to an immediate score. Crown made their advantage on the break, with 28 points compared to the Vikings' 12. The Storm successful avenged a three-point loss in Mankato earlier this season. Both teams shot 48% from the field, however, Crown outpaced the Vikings by shooting 50% from downtown compared to 38% for Bethany. The Storm made more three-point shots on fewer attempts than the Vikings. 

The Storm next head to Northland College for a matchup with playoff implications as Crown leads the Lumberjacks only by a single game. That contest is scheduled Saturday before the Storm return home for a matchup on Wednesday against the Martin Luther Knights, the Storm's last regular season home game of the season.