Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
men's basketball team fell to Marian 61-51 Tuesday night in a
Northern Athletics Conference contest at the Recreation
Complex.
The Sabres (5-11, 2-6 NAC) started strong from the opening tip
as they built a 17-5 lead just 6:30 into the game. The Warriors had
an answer, however, as they rattled off 16 of the next 20 points to
tie the game at 21-21 with 4:17 remaining in the first half.
The final 4:17 of the half was a back-and-forth affair, but it
was Marian which scored the last points of the half as the visitors
took a slight 26-24 lead into halftime.
Wisconsin Lutheran out-shot Marian in the opening half,
connecting on 37 percent (10-for-27) of its shot attempts, compared
to the Sabres' 33.3 percent (8-for-24). The ability to get to the
free throw line was the reason WLC trailed at the half as Marian
shot 8-for-13 from the line compared to just 2-for-4 for Wisconsin
Lutheran.
Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) scored nine
points to lead Wisconsin Lutheran at the break. Marian's Jeff
Harris led all first-half scorers with 11 points.
The Warriors came out after halftime and scored the first four
points on a pair of Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland
Lutheran) jumpers to take a 28-26 lead. Marian tied things up
quickly at 30-30 and then got a three-point play from Cody Veleke
to go up 33-30. Wisconsin Lutheran hung around and trailed by just
two points at the 6:19 mark, but never could tie or take the lead
as the Sabres came away with the 10-point victory.
Both teams improved their shooting in the second half, but it
was Marian which vastly improved as it made 54.5 percent
(12-for-22) of its shot attempts compared to WLC's 38.7 percent
(12-for-31). Rebounding was very tight as Wisconsin Lutheran won
the battle, 36-35.
Strutz finished with a career-high 15 points, with 10 coming in
the second half to lead Wisconsin Lutheran. Merbach finished with
13 points and Julion Griffin (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran)
pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds for the Warriors. Harris
finished with a game-high 20 points as he was one of four Sabres to
finish in double figures.
Wisconsin Lutheran (2-13, 1-6 NAC) returns to action Thursday
night when it travels to Sheboygan, Wis. for a conference contest
against Lakeland (11-4, 5-2 NAC). Tip-off between the Warriors and
Muskies is set for 7 p.m. Fans unable to attend the game can follow
the action via live audio, stats and video at wlcsports.com.
