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St. Olaf Men Lose at Buzzer to Carleton

Jason Welle
February 19, 2001

The St. Olaf College men?s basketball team ended its season in difficult fashion Saturday, losing by two to its cross-town nemesis Carleton College. The Oles led from the opening buzzer but suffered a scoring draught down the stretch, managing only seven points in the final 7:13. Carleton senior Jeff Jensen made a pair of free throws with three seconds left to give the Knights the win 79-77 and a season split with the Oles.

St. Olaf held Carleton to 28% shooting in the first half and had hot hands early in the game, jumping out to a 10-0 lead early before Carleton started to pick up the pace. The Oles hit 9 of 15 three-point attempts in the first half, enabling them to take a 41-33 advantage into halftime.

The Oles maintained control for most of the second half, holding a ten-point lead at different times, but after Tim Nelson?s (So., Braham, Minn.) layup put St. Olaf up 70-58 with 7:13 to go, the game was all Carleton. Carleton seniors Jeff Jensen and Steve Knutson carried the Knights home, scoring 18 of Carleton?s final 22 points. Ryan Olson?s (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) jumper with 1:58 to go gave St. Olaf a 77-75 lead that it carried into the final minute, but the only scoring in that final minute came from Jensen, who hit all four of his free throws to give Carleton a 79-77 win.

Carleton?s Steve Nuessle led all scorers and rebounders in the game with 21 and 12 respectively. Five Knights reached double figures in the season ending win. Nelson led the Oles with 17 on 7 of 8 from the field. Senior captains Hallie Williams (Woodbury, Minn.) and Olson both also reached double figures, scoring 15 and 12 and nailing three three-pointers each.

Saturday?s game was the last of the season for both teams, as neither will advance to the MIAC playoffs. St. Olaf finishes ninth in the MIAC with a 5-15 record in the league, 7-17 overall. Carleton places eighth with a 9-15 overall record, 7-13 in the MIAC. Carleton also retains possession of the coveted Goatrophy, a traveling trophy between the two schools; the Knights have had the trophy since the 1988-89 season.

Contact Pat Buresh at 507-786-3315 or buresh@stolaf.edu.