Ole men get 17 from Neville, 16 from Fong but fall at DII SMSU in exhibition

Mike Ludwig
November 8, 2011

MARSHALL, Minn. - Stu Neville had 17 points and Bobby Fong 16 to go with seven rebounds, but the St. Olaf men's basketball team dropped a 78-67 exhibition game to Division II Southwest Minnesota State University on Tuesday night.

Matt Zager had 16 points, going 8-for-9 from the field to lead the Mustangs, who shot a staggering 62.3 percent from the floor. Nick Smith went 6-for-7 for his 15 points while Vinard Birch a perfect 4-for-4 for eight points.

Michael Jenson added 10 points off the bench and Mark Wieloch nine for the Oles, who were 12-for-19 from the arc (63.2 percent).

St. Olaf was within four at the break, at 41-37, after Neville nailed a three in the final seconds of the first half. SMSU then went on an 11-0 run, making five of their first six field goal attempts to start the second. The Mustang lead ballooned to as many as 23 before St. Olaf closed the game on a 17-5 rally.

St. Olaf opens the regular season next Tuesday with a home game against Bethany Lutheran at 7 p.m. at Skoglund Center. SMSU plays Division I UW-Milwaukee on Saturday in Milwaukee.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.