RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The UW-River Falls men's basketball team earned a 78-68 win over Finlandia University during its 2022-23 home opener at Page Arena.
The Falcons, now 3-2 overall, compiled a season-high 53 rebounds and 17 assists despite committing 29 turnovers.
Rodrick Payne led the way with a career-high 30 points, shooting 11-of-15 from the field and 8-of-12 at the free throw line while adding three blocked shots.
UWRF shot 15-of-32 in the first half while limiting the Lions to 31 percent shooting. The Falcons jumped out to an 8-0 lead early and extended their lead to double-digits with a
Logan Jedwabny triple near the 12 minute mark, leading 17-6. UWRF led by as many as 17 with a
Mason Anderson layup with 6:22 left in the half, and took a 38-27 lead into the locker room.
Finlandia pushed back in the second half, sinking a pair of three-pointers to cut the Falcon lead to 38-35 under two minutes into the second period. Down by 13 five minutes in, the Lions strung together a 21-11 run in the next 11 minutes to cut the UWRF lead to 63-60.
The Falcons answered with five-straight field goals, including a Payne dunk to put the home team up 74-60 with a minute and a half left in regulation, enough insurance for the win.
Jedwabny was one point shy of a double-double, leading the Falcons with 10 rebounds along with his nine points.
Dylan Parker added 12 points, and shared the team-lead in assists with
Will Van Scoy, each tallying five.
UWRF heads into WIAC play next Wednesday, Nov. 30, hosting UW-Eau Claire.
