Worthington, Minnesota - The Minnesota West Bluejays men's basketball team opened their 2023-24 campaign with a doubleheader in Agency Village, South Dakota against the Mustangs of Sisseton-Wahpeton College this past weekend, splitting the weekend.

In game one on Friday night, poor shooting ultimately doomed the royal and white, as the Bluejays shot just 5.6% from the three point line and 25.0% from the free throw line to fall to SWC by a final score of 52-50. Leading by 2 at the half, the Bluejays were unable to find any rythym on the offensive end with a last second contested layup rimming out that would have sent the game to overtime. Minnesota West was led on the offensive end by Sophomore Jordan Sinclair (Stockholm, Sweden) who finished 7-14 from the field for 15 points while also contributing 4 steals. Samuelsson was the only Jay to reach double figures.

On Saturday evening, the Bluejays used a big second half to jump all over the Mustangs, winning by a final score of 78-58 after the score was tied at 28 at the half. The second day of the back to back saw a much better offensive performance from the Jays, seeing four members hitting double digits in the scorebook. Pacing the Bluejays were two players off the bench, as Teddy Collins Jr. (Fr., Rochester, MN) led the team with 15 points while contributing 5 rebounds and 5 asissts, and Rashawn Williams (Fr., Rochester, NY) poured in 13 points and 4 rebounds in just 21 minutes of play. Also joining them in double figures was Kenneth Logan (So., Chicago, IL) with 13 points and 8 rebounds, and Samuelsson, who hit double figures for the second game in a row with 10 points. 

Minnesota West will return to action this weekend for their home opener with the Sanford Classic, playing host to Northwestern College JV at 8:00 PM on Friday, November 10th and Dordt University JV team at 6:00 PM on Saturday, November 11th.