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Men's basketball beats SMU for fourth straight

Le Ann Finger
December 7, 2002

The St. Olaf men's basketball team was not going to let Tim Nelson (Sr., Braham, Minn.) down. The Oles (5-1, 2-0) won their fourth game in a row, defeating Saint Mary's University 79-69 in Winona, Minn.

Nelson was forced to miss the game for what some would consider a chance of a lifetime. The philosophy and psychology major was one of two Minnesotans at the district interviews for the Rhodes Scholarship.

Mike Ludwig (Sr., Blaine, Minn.) had 24 points, leading four Oles in double figures. Justin Bonestroo (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) had 15 points and Kevin Jaunich (Sr., Delano, Minn.) 13 in the win. Matt Schlenker (Jr., Rochester, Minn.)added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds.

St. Olaf led by nine at the half and by as many as 22 in the second half.

Nick Michaels had 19 points and Lance Larson 16 to lead Saint Mary's (1-3, 1-1)

"It was incredibly hard for him [Nelson] to miss this game," said Schlenker.

Nelson will find out tonight if he recieves one of the four schoarships offered in the district. Fourteen candidates from eight states were at the interviews, which were held at Macalester College in St. Paul.

St. Olaf will try to extend their winning streak to five on Monday, when they travel to Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. The game is set for 7:30 and can be heard on 920 AM, KDHL.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.