Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
men's basketball team was out-scored 24-7 from the free throw line
as it dropped a 77-71 non-conference game to the Cardinal Stritch
Wolves Tuesday night at the Recreation Complex.
Following an Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran)
free throw to open the game, the Wolves netted the game's next
seven points and held the lead for the remainder of the opening
half. The Warriors did trail by just two points, 18-16, but
Cardinal Stritch soon after built a 13-point lead at 31-18 for its
largest lead of the half. CSU held a 10-point lead, 42-32, at
halftime.
Merbach scored a first-half best 15 points, while Tim Demuth
(Franksville, Wis./Racine Lutheran) added 10 points. WLC shot 44.9
percent (13-for-29) in the first half. Stritch meanwhile, shot 55.2
percent (16-for-29) in the first half and was led by Tony Smit's
team-high 11 points in the period.
The Warriors opened the second half on an 8-1 run and quickly
tied the game at 47-47 at the 11:17 mark on a three-pointer from
Eric Reed (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran). WLC grabbed its
first lead of the half on its next possession on another
three-pointer from Cody Jackson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago
Lutheran). After two ties, the Wolves went in front 67-60 with 3:01
to play.
WLC got to within three points at 67-64 with 1:37 left, but
could get no closer as the final horn sounded.
Wisconsin Lutheran shot 35.9 percent (14-for-39) in the second
half, while holding visiting CSU to just 32.0 percent (8-for-25)
shooting. However, Stritch went to the charity stripe 29 times in
the game, making 24 attempts. The Warriors were just 7-for-8 from
the line for the game.
Merbach recorded a double-double with 25 points and 12 rebounds
to lead all players in the game. Demuth scored 15 points and
Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) added 10.
For the Wolves (7-2), Smit paced three players in double figures
with his team-high 24 points. Navjot Singh grabbed 12 rebounds.
Wisconsin Lutheran (1-8, 0-1 NAC) wraps up its brief two-game
homestand Saturday when it hosts NAC South Division opponent
Rockford (3-3, 1-1 NAC) at 4:15 p.m. at the Recreation Complex. The
contest is part of a doubleheader with the women's team.
