ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. --- Crown Men's Basketball won their third conference game on Thursday night as the Storm defeated the UM-Morris Cougars 87-70. Tied 43-43 at the midpoint break, Crown came out with a fire in the second half, winning the period 44-27.
The momentum shifted with 12:30 remaining in the game, the Storm down a point. Crown proceeded to rattle off five straight threes and take a commanding 12-point lead. During that run, four Storm players hit threes; Quincy Wilson, then Micah Ladd, then Jacob Van Dam, then Seth Royston, and Wilson added another three to cap the three-point barrage. Wilson added another made shot to put the Storm up 14, and Crown never looked back as Morris couldn't make it a two-possession game the rest of the way.
The Storm had their best offensive performance to date, with their first game of the season eclipsing 80 points and shooting 40% from beyond the arc. Senior Christian Moore led the team in scoring with 18 points and recorded a team-high five rebounds, along with three steals and two assists. Moore was one of five Crown players in double figures, joined by junior Seth Royston (15 points), first-year Micah Ladd (13 points), first-year Micah Moan (11 points), and first-year Quincy Wilson (11 points).
The Storm were red-hot from beyond the arc, which this heat map proves.
Defensively, the Storm forced turnovers everywhere with 14 in the game, outscoring the Cougars 34-4 in points off takeaways. Ladd led the defensive charge, with an impressive five steals in the game. Royston matched Moore with a team-high five rebounds and had two blocks and two steals. Moan led the team with six assists as he continues to show off his offensive acumen. Sophomore Alec Testerman continued to be the glue that holds the Storm together, with six points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, creating winning opportunities for the Storm. Sophomore Aaron Davis scored three points on 50% shooting; Cade Neubert and Sawyer Lawhon added two points each.
Ladd led the defense with five steals. Crown outscored the Cougars 34-4 in points off turnovers.
The Storm now sit 3-3 in conference play, fifth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference standings. The teams above them have a maximum of one loss, and the teams below have a maximum of one win.
For a game that the lead changed eight times, the Storm's second-half effort was nothing short of remarkable and, as a young team, is a sign of positive things to come. Next up, Crown heads to UW-Superior for a league matchup with the Yellowjackets, currently 0-2 in conference play. After that, the Storm are looking to host a game on Monday afternoon against Nebraska Wesleyan, and dependent on confirmation of referees, this will be the Storm's second contest against the Prairie Wolves in Men's Basketball history. In 2018, Nebraska Wesleyan won the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship; however, the team is 0-2 in 2021.
