After back-to-back highly successful seasons the 2019-20 Highland men's basketball team was eager to get the season tipped off and they did claiming a 98-65 win over the University of St. Mary JV on Friday night to open the season.

Scotties utilized six double figure scorers, alongside solid ball distribution with 22 assists on 43 made field goal and took advantage of 23 St. Mary turnovers scoring 23 points off the turnovers.
Highland took control of the game midway through the first half at the 9:50 mark pushing the lead to double figures for the first time on the night at 22-12. Scotties carried a 42-26 lead into intermission after hold the Spires of St. Mary to just 26.1% shooting in the first half.

After a run by St. Mary cut the Highland lead down to 12 points in the second half the Scotties answered back and finished off the contest over the final nearly six minutes outscoring the Spires 22-0 to cap the win 98-65.

On the night the Scotties shot 53.1% from the floor, while winning the rebounding battle 52-33 and only had 10 turnovers in the contest.

Leading the Scotties was returning sophomore, Rashon Johnson who tallied a double-double 18 points and 10 rebounds, while adding five assists. Marquise Milton and Dylan Vincent each chipped in 12 points on the night. Milton tallied all 12 of his points in the second half, while Vincent came close to a triple-double adding nine rebounds and nine assists to his 12 points.

Devonte Gilbert got the start in his first career college game and posted 11 points, six rebounds and four assists, while Trey Twa notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Aguek Deng added 10 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the win. Denzel Knight had nine points and both Kendon Knight and Alex Dolce each tallied eight points.

Highland opens the season 1-0 and will be back in action again on Monday, November 4^th at home against Graceland University JV and then head to Fort Scott, Kansas for the Gladbach Classic and will play Thursday and Friday, November 7-8^th vs Neosho County and Northwest Tech at 4:00 and 2:00pm, respectively.