Box Score

Rensselaer, IN- Damon Ellison Jr.'s lay-up with 49 seconds left proved to be the game-winner as Saint Joseph's College claimed a 76-74 victory over UW-Parkside on Thursday night. The Rangers came from 14 points down to take the lead on three occasions in the final 3:47 but were unable to take the win.
 
Jeremy Saffold led UW-Parkside with 22 points and on a second half free throw became the 20^th player in men's basketball history to record 1,000 career points. The junior also pulled down eight rebounds.
 
Conrad Krutwig also notched his first double-double as a Ranger scoring 13 points to go with 12 rebounds. Ziggy Riauka had 16 points and six boards.
 
After digging back from the double digit deficit, Parkside took the lead with 3:47 left on a pair of Saffold free throws. The teams traded two free throws on three more occasions giving the Pumas a one-point lead with 2:29 left.
 
It stayed that way until Leneal Harris sliced through the lane and scored over Ellison with 1:05 remaining to make it 73-72 in favor of the Rangers. That's when Ellison answered quickly on the other end on a nice feed from Dayvon Sloan to put the home team back out in front.
 
On the Rangers ensuing possession, Harris found Krutwig in the corner with 18 seconds to go. His shot rimmed off the back of the iron and was chased down by St. Joe's.
 
After a couple of Parkside fouls, Sloan was able to hit two free throws with nine seconds left to push the lead to 75-72.
 
Harris pushed it up hard on the sideline before getting to the top of the key with about four ticks left. Unfortunately for the Rangers he was stripped of the ball on the way up. It bounded to Krutwig under the basket who laid it in with just one second left.
 
Ellison knocked down one of two free throws with .7 seconds left but the rebound was tipped around and the Rangers were unable to get off a desperation heave.
 
Parkside shot 49.1% from the floor including 56.7% in the second half. The Rangers were hurt by turnovers committing 19 in the game compared to 11 by the Pumas. The St. Joe's bench also played a big role as they outscored the Parkside subs, 48-5.
 
The Rangers got off to a great start opening up a 12-2 lead including four points each from Harris and Riauka. Unfortunately from that point on it was almost all Pumas as they outpaced Parkside 40-17 the rest of the half.
 
It was a 18-3 run by the Ranger midway through the second half, capped by the Saffold free throws, that set up the photo finish. Riauka had six more points in that swing to help the Rangers get back in front.
 
Parkside now will prepare for its final two games of the year beginning Saturday against Indianapolis. Game time at the DeSimone Gymnasium is set for 3:00 p.m. The season concludes next Thursday on Senior Night as the Rangers welcome Lewis University. That game will start at approximately 7:30 p.m.