By Jim Bastian

Journal Sports Writer

ST. PETER — The New Ulm Eagles boys basketball team overcame two Mankato West double-digit leads to down West 69-62 Saturday in a Section 2AAA boys basketball semifinals game on Gus Young Court at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Nate Firle led third-seeded New Ulm, now 21-7, with 20 points and seven blocked shots. Colton Benson and James Osborne each added 18 points, while Will Fossen added 9.

The Eagles outscored second-seeded West 42-30 in the second half.

The third-seeded Eagles will now face top-seeded Mankato East (25-2) Thursday at 7 p.m at Gustavus for a state tournament trip.

New Ulm trailed early in the game, 26-13, before cutting the lead to 32-27 at halftime.

West, who had beaten the Eagles 71-70 earlier in the season, led 48-37 early in the second half. The Scarlets then held a 55-48 lead before New Ulm started its comeback.

A basket from Ayden Jensen sparked a run that saw the Eagles cut the lead to 57-56 before Fossen, who canned a big 3 in New Ulm’s win over St. Peter on Wednesday, buried a 3 to tie the game at 59.

A Firle basket, followed by two Osborne baskets, gave New Ulm its first leads of the game at 65-60 over the stunned Scarlets with 1:22 left in the game.

West cut the New Ulm lead to 66-62 with 27 seconds left in the game before free throws from Benson and Fossen with 14 seconds left in the game closed out the come-from-behind win for the Eagles.