ST. PAUL, Minn. - Newman opened the 2021-22 season with a non-conference matchup vs. Concordia-St. Paul out of the NSIC Friday night in St. Paul.  The matchup was Newman's first non-conference game since the 2019-20 season as last season was played with a conference only schedule as decided by the MIAA.  The Jets battled back from 13 down in the second half, bringing the game within one, but ultimately fell 73-70.

Newman opened up the game with a 3-2 lead when Branden Bunn knocked down his first three pointer of the season at 17:28.  This was the Jets' first and only lead of the night as the Bears returned the favor with a 12-0 run.  The pair of teams would battle their first halves of the season to a 34-27 lead for CSP.

In the second half, Concordia-St. Paul opened the game with a 13 point lead not once, but two different occasions before the under 10 media timeout.  The Jets began to chip away as CSP's shooting went cold, the Jets locked it in.  At 6:32 Damani Thomas made a layup.  The Jets turned up the heat with full court pressure and Thomas stole the ball from a Bear and scored a wide open layup bringing the game within one.  Thomas finished with 4 points, 2 steals and 4 rebounds.

David Javorsky scored a team high 15 points.  Branden Bunn and AJ Morris each had 11 points giving Newman three double digit scorers.  Three jets had 4 rebounds and Bunn led the team with 4 assists.

The Jets turn around Saturday for a Noon tip off against Southwest Minnesota State in St. Paul.