Staff photo by Ari Selvey New Ulm’s Nick Risen (20) puts up a shot during a Big South Conference boys basketball game against Tri-City United Friday at New Ulm High School.

NEW ULM — In the first half of its Big South Conference boys basketball game against Tri-City United, New Ulm forced 17 Titans turnovers and held TCU to 17 points.

Meanwhile, the Eagles offense produced 52 points in that first half as they rolled TCU 86-40 Friday night.

Zach Hubbard led New Ulm (5-13, 1-10) with 21 points. Levi Hopp ended with 16 and Mitchell Hopp 15. Nick Risen scored 9 and Isaiah Friese 8.

Jaylen Nhem led TCU (0-19, 0-11) with 13 points.

“Our boys came in, knew what the mission was and did what they had to do,” New Ulm head coach Matthew Dennis said. “We scored our highest first half point total with 52 — last night we had 50 [in a win over Jordan]. We came out ready in that first half.”

The Eagles, who play at Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial on Monday, jumped to a 16-0 lead. Three-pointers from Levi Hopp and Mitchell Hopp and four baskets off of six of the 17 first half turnovers had New Ulm in cruise control.

The Eagles built that to a 40-9 lead before a Nhem 3 got TCU into double-digits at 40-12.

Baskets from Levi Hopp, a shot from Owen Castleman and two free throws from Joey Wise made it a 48-12 lead. Castleman and a two free throws from Risen left TCU in the rear-view mirror at 52-17.

“We had a lot of assists tonight especially in that first half,” Dennis said. “We found each other — we were very unselfish — and that is the kind of stuff that you want to see out of your team. We forced turnovers, the ball pressure was there, and we turned it into offense again just like last night.”

New Ulm increased its lead to 69-29 on two Hubbard baskets and then 73-35 on a Friese 3.

“Our boys are doing good things right now,” Dennis said after the Eagles second straight win. “We talked about setting the tone early and no let downs on defense. They took that to heart and executed the game plan.”