Austin Packers boys’ basketball downs Mankato West to remain unbeaten 61-52

Something had to give as the Austin Packers and the Mankato West Scarlets both came into Saturday afternoon’s boys’ basketball contest at Packer Gym at 2-0 on the young season.  Emmanuel Manyoun, who continues to shine for the Packers this season led three players in double figures with 29 points as Austin held off West for the win Saturday 61-52.

Manyoun drilled one of the Packers’ eight 3-pointers in the game early in the first half to give Austin a 14-8 lead, but the Scarlets countered with a 12-1 run to take a 20-15 lead.  A bucket from Okey Okey, another 3-pointer from Manyoun helped to key an 11-0 Packer run to put Austin ahead 26-20, and they went on to lead at the half 32-24.

The Packers started out the second half strong as a 3-pointer from Teyghan Hovland boosted Austin’s lead to ten at 40-30, and another basket later from Hovland off of an offensive rebound and two more 3’s from Manyoun later pushed Austin’s lead to as large as 17 at 53-36 with just over 7:00 left.  Mankato West would not go quietly, though, as they were able to cut the Packer lead to 58-50 with just under two minutes to go, but Austin was able to withstand the push and remain unbeaten on the young season.

Manyoun wound up hitting five 3-pointers in the game on his way to the game-high 29 points, and Okey Okey added 13 points, five rebounds, three steals and one assist, and Teyghan Hovland chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, which led the club.  Victor Idris added three points and led Austin in rebounds with 12 and blocked shots with two and Gage Manahan, Dieth Duop and Jordan Ransom all added two points apiece in the win for Austin.  Louis Magers led three Mankato West players in double figures with 16 points, plus he led the Scarlets with seven rebounds, and he added three assists and two steals for West, who fell to 2-1 with the loss.

Austin is off to a 3-0 start, and they will kick off a four-game road trip Thursday night in Northfield versus the Raiders, with the B-Squad tip-off at 4:45 p.m., and the varisty tap to follow at 6:00 p.m.  You’ll hear Friday night’s contest at Winona versus the Winhawks right here on AM 1480 KAUS, with the B-Squad tip-off at 6:00 p.m., and the varsity tap to follow at 7:30 p.m.  You’ll also be able to catch the game Friday night on our webpage, myaustinminnesota.com, and on the I Heart Radio app.