Box Score

ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. (Dec. 8, 2007) – The Northwestern College men's basketball started their 2007-08 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schedule right where they left off in the 2006-07 season, defeating Crown College 74-62 in both teams' conference opener. Northwestern, who is the reigning UMAC champion and was selected as the team to beat in the preseason coaches' poll, used size and a deep bench to their advantage, out-scoring Crown 30-16 in the paint while out-scoring their opponent's bench 18-4.

Mike Anderstrom (Woodbury, MN/New Life Academy) (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) continued to show his senior leadership en route to scoring a team-high 20 points. Daniel Hanson (Plymouth, MN/Maranatha) (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy) was equally impressive as he recorded his third straight double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Northwestern's shots couldn't seem to find the bottom of the net in the first half, as the Eagles shot 38.7 percent from the field in the first half. Cue the second period though, when Tim Grosz's squad went 14-of-24 (58.3 percent) to level the game's rate at 47.3 percent. Crown shot 41.1 percent for the game.

The Eagles' performances of Hanson and Anderstrom along with other front court prowess proved to be too much for Crown as they out-rebounded the Storm 39-22.

Adding to Anderstrom and Hanson's points was Stephen Hanson (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha) (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy), who scored 10 points in the contest. Hanson had eight rebounds, while Anderstrom added seven on a night where the senior was 7-of-10 from the floor.

Northwestern (5-2, 1-0 UMAC) returns home on Wednesday, when they host Wisconsin-Superior in non-conference action. Game time in the Ericksen Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.