NEW RICHLAND– Jake Wesley scored 34 points, 25 of those in the second half, as the Mankato Loyola Crusaders boys’ basketball team defeated the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Panthers 70-45 Friday in New Richland.

The Panthers trailed at halftime by one point at 30-29.

“Really good ball game in the first half,” NRHEG coach Pat Churchill said. “It was back and forth.”

After halftime, Jake Wesley put on a show.

Wesley poured in 25 points in the second to help the Crusaders pull away from the Panthers.

“The second half was the Jake Wesley show,” Churchill said. “He is a tremendous athlete and he was getting any shot he wanted and was knocking them down.”

Hunter Eustice led the Panthers with 10 points, while Matt Carlson and Matt Carlson both had eight points a piece.

NRHEG is back in action on Tuesday as they travel to take on Bethlehem Academy.

Mankato Loyola 70, NRHEG 45

ML 30 40 – 70

NRHEG 29 16 – 45

NRHEG scoring: Hunter Eustice 10 points, Matt Carlson 8, Sam Lundberg 8, Matt Nafe 7, Evan Ferber 4, Carter Tollefson 4, Tyler Sorenson 2, Spencer Hannah 2.