ST. PAUL – Led by 22 points from Trevon Evans and a career-high 17 from Aaron Rothermund, the University of Sioux Falls Men's Basketball (13-7, 8-6 NSIC) rolled to its third win in four games with a 85-64 NSIC road decision over Concordia St. Paul (3-16, 2-11 NSIC) at the Ganglehoff Center on Saturday.

On the night, USF had contributions across the board with five players scoring in double digits for the first time this year. With the victory, USF remained in a third place tie in the NSIC South with Winona State at 8-6. Overall, USF has improved to 13-7 while surpassing 80 points in a game for the 12th time this season.

"I was really pleased with the way we came out fast tonight, led by Trevon (Evans), Drew (Maschoff) and Aaron (Rothermund)," said USF head men's basketball coach Chris Johnson, who recorded his 185th career victory. "Everyone contributed tonight as we had a solid night offensively and defended really well," he said.

Evans had 20 points for the second straight night and a team-high 11th time this season. Evans, who had 22 against the Golden Bears after 24 against Minnesota State, hit 9-of-17 from the floor, including 3-of-7 from three point range. He also added three assists, two rebounds and a steal.

Rothermund set a career-high with 17 points, as he had made 7-of-10 field goals, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. Rothermund also had four rebounds and three assists. Freshman Drew Maschoff added 14 points with three rebounds and two assists and no turnovers at point guard. Junior forward Drew Guebert had 11 points, eight rebounds, tied a career-high with three assists and had two steals. He reached double digits for 18th time this season and 58th time in his career. Redshirt freshman forward Austin Slater added 11 points and five rebounds with two blocked shots.

USF jumped to a 10-2 lead just three minutes into the game and built a 16-point advantage late in the half before taking a 41-28 halftime lead. USF, which led from start to finish, outscored CSP, 44-36 in the second half to take their 12th win in 16 games in the all-time series with the Golden Bears.

For the second straight night, USF surpassed 54 percent shooting from the field. The hot-shooting Cougars hit 34-of-63 shots from the field for 54 percent, including 9-of-24 for 37.5 percent from three-point range. USF, which lost the rebounding battle, 36-33, caused CSP problems on defense all night. USF forced 14 turnovers, had two blocked shots and recorded six steals while holding the Golden Bears to 40.4 percent shoot (23-of-57). Bryndan Mathews and Elliott Kane led CSP with 13 points.
 
Game Breakdown
With Maschoff and Evans both tallying 10 points in the first half, USF took a 41-28 lead over CSP. The Cougars, which led by as many as 16 (41-25, 1:57, 1st half), hit 17-of-30 field goals for 56.7 percent, including 5-of-11 from three point range. Both teams had 18 rebounds. CSP was 9-of-29 from the floor for 31 percent and had 3-of-9 from distance for 33.3 percent.

The Cougars opened quickly as 3-pointers from Maschoff and Rothermund gave the Cougars a 10-2 lead at the 17:05 mark of the first half.  With a three from Kane, CSP responded with seven straight to pull within 10-9 at the 14:23 mark.

With a second trey from Maschoff, off an assist from Rothermund, and one from Slater, the Cougars built a 19-12 lead at the 11:22 mark. Later, jumpers from Justin Taylor, Evans and Maschoff helped the Cougars build a 10-point lead (29-19, 7:44, 1st half).

Rothermund hit a jumper and Zach Wessels converted a drive for a 36-25 lead with 3:09 to play.  After blocked shot by Slater, Evans knocked down USF's fifth three of the half and then converted a lay-up as USF took a 41-25 lead with 1:57 left in the half. CSP closed on a 3-0 run to cut the deficit to 13 points.

But as would be the case every time CSP made a run, USF had the answer. The Cougars ended the Golden Bears' momentum by opening the second half on a 19-10 run, including a pair of threes from Evans, to build a 60-38 lead with 13:58 to play. 

CSP tried to get back into the game, using a 6-0 run to pull with 16 (60-44, 12:03, 2nd). Evans ended the CSP run with a driving lay-up for a 62-44 advantage with 10:52 to play.

After CSP again had a mini-run of five straight points, the Cougars again responded as Slater converted a three-point play after an assist from Evans at the 7:27 mark. Then, Rothermund hit from downtown with his third three of the game as the Cougars took a 72-51 lead.

Once again, the Golden Bears tried to rally, using an 8-2 run, including a Matthews's trey, to draw within 74-59 with 4:44 to play. But, USF answer with five straight, including a three-point play by Guebert, for a 20-point lead (79-59, 3:54) and the issue was decided.

USF will continue its four-game road swing at Northern State on Friday, Jan. 26 before heading to MSU Moorhead on Jan. 27.