ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern men's basketball team took on the Storm of Crown College Friday night in their first conference game of the season. The Eagles took home the victory with a final score of 87-78 and improved to a 5-3 overall record, 1-0 UMAC record on the season. 
 
It was a back and forth first half as both teams could not find a lead bigger than five points in the first 14 minutes. The Storm came out hot to start off the game, giving themselves an early 5-0 lead. The Eagles continued to battle back and eventually found themselves on a 9-0 run, started by a Kyle Kaemingk (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) layup and capped off by a Kaemingk and-one. The run would lead to a 40-29 lead with 1:15 left on the clock. Both teams continued to battle as the Eagles would enter the locker rooms leading 44-31.
 
There were a total of nine lead changes throughout the first half as both teams fought for the lead. UNW must have been seeing a big basket as they shot 56 percent from the field. They also won the board game as they outrebounded Crown 22-12, including five offensive boards that led to eight second chance points.
 
Crown continued to storm back in the second half as they would not go down without a fight. They brought the lead all the way down to one point, 68-67, with eight minutes left in the game. However, UNW would not let them see the lead at all in the second half as they came out on top 87-78. The Eagles continued to dominate on the boards as they finished the game with a total of 39 rebounds to Crown's 24. The offensive rebounds would be the main factor for UNW as they finished the game with 12 offensive rebounds, which led to 20 second chance points.
 
Kaemingk once again led the charge for the Eagles, leading the team with 19 points and nine rebounds. Noah Alm (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) was right behind him in points with 15. Henry Fahnbulleh (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) also had himself a game, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds.
 
The Eagles are back in business tomorrow as they will head to Morris to take on the University of Minnesota Morris in another UMAC conference game at 4:45 p.m. For all things UNW men's basketball fans can follow along at www.unweagles.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @unwmbb.