MAYVILLE, ND – The Mayville State University Comets only had four days to get past their tough loss against the University of Jamestown Jimmies coming into Saturday night's matchup against the Providence University College Pilots. The Comets didn't let the earlier week's luck bother them, as they took advantage of every Providence mistake, en route to a 99-66 win at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse on Saturday.
"It was good that we played better from Tuesday to now," head coach Darren Tighe said. "It was good to see we have made some progress."
Mayville State started out quick, jumping out to a 13-0 lead less than four minutes into the first half.
"We just need time," Tighe said.
Dominic Schuster came off the bench, and, within ten seconds, had the biggest bucket of his young career, the bucket to put Mayville State ahead 13-0.
"Dominic has come in and uses what he knows," Tighe said.
Max Cooper had a strong half for the Comets, nailing a couple of huge buckets, helping Mayville State to the big leads they held.
Bryant Smith got the Pilots on the board first, less than four-and-a-half minutes into the half on a putback behind a block and defensive rebound by Andrew Winslow.
Malachi Wharry eventually built a 16-point Comet lead six-and-a-half minutes into the game on a pass from Tobyn Lawson.
Providence never got to within less than 13 points throughout the first half. A three-point miss by Kevin Camara, at the buzzer, ended the first half with Mayville State ahead 45-27.
Mayville State picked up where they left off in the first half, as Latrelle Franklin extended the lead to 31 points with just 16:07 to go in the game.
While Providence tried to come back, Mayville State continued to have an answer.
A putback by Christian Kuntz extended the lead to 80-44, with just over nine minutes left. That lead continued to swell, to a 42-point lead with 5:54 left in the game, at the hands of Simon Ramirez.
Cooper led the Comets with 16 points, followed by Ramirez with 16 and Jalen Valverde with 13 points.
The Comets will host Providence on Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.
"We have to do a little better job on the forward stuff," Tighe said. "We also have to make some free throws."