Yellowjackets 80, Northland 51
Box Score
Following an intense month of preseason practice, the UW-Superior men's basketball team figured to be more than ready for the season to start Thursday night.
And the Yellowjackets got the 2012-2013 campaign off on the right foot, taking advantage of a career-high 25-point night from Jarrod Peterson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) on the way to posting an impressive 80-51 victory over Northland College at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.
Austin Cahill (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Aaron Corry (Lake Nebagamon, Wis.) also scored in double-figures for UW-Superior, netting 13 and 10 points respectively, as the Yellowjackets limited the Lumberjacks to just 33.9 percent shooting and forced Northland into 16 turnovers in picking up the victory.
After Northland took a 4-3 lead on a Zach Ringhouse layup with 18:10 left in the first half, the Yellowjackets went on a 9-0 run to take a 12-4 lead following an inside score by Bronson Byrne (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) with 14:48 left in the opening frame.
The Lumberjacks cut the deficit to 13-9 after a basket by Shai Gray with 13:32 remaining in the first half.
But the Yellowjackets outscored Northland 10-0 over the next 2:32 for a 23-9 edge when Peterson connected on one of his five three-pointers for the evening at the 11:00 mark of the opening stanza.
From there, UW-Superior continued to surge, taking 42-20 lead into the intermission following a three-pointer by Cahill with 1:53 left in the first half.
The Yellowjackets scored the first four points of the second half to expand their lead to 46-20 on two free throws by Trent Davis (Apple Valley, Minn./St. Bernard's) with 17:45 remaining in regulation.
Northland came to within 49-33 at the 13:36 mark after two free throws by Ringhouse.
UW-Superior would cruise from there however, taking their largest lead of the night at 80-45 on a layup by LaDarius Frazier (Kansas City, Kan.) with 2:06 left in regulation.
Peterson connected on 9-of-10 from the field, including 5-of-6 from three-point range in scoring a game-high 25 points.
Northland was paced by Camell Sheppard with 20 points. Adrian Flores also added 10 points for the Lumberjacks.
The Yellowjackets return to action Monday when they host Augsburg at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. Opening tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game can be heard on 91.3 FM KUWS. Matt Johnson and Monte Stewart will be on the call.