Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
men's basketball team overcame a 17-point first-half deficit and
outlasted visiting Maranatha 72-66 in overtime on Tuesday night in
a Northern Athletics Conference North Division game at the
Recreation Complex.
The Crusaders netted the first five points of the game, before a
three-pointer from Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland
Lutheran) brought WLC within two points at the 17:16 mark. However,
those would be the final points that the Warriors would score for
nearly the next five minutes as Maranatha led by game-high 17
points, 20-3, with 12:22 left in the first half.
Following its long scoring drought, Wisconsin Lutheran began to
slowly chip away at the Crusaders lead. The Warriors trailed by
just seven points, 26-19, at halftime.
WLC shot just 32.0 percent (8-for-25) in the first half, while
the Crusaders shot 45.5 percent (10-for-22). The Warriors' deficit
was due in large part to a 12-2 advantage in points off turnovers
for Maranatha. Tim Demuth (Franksville, Wis./Racine Lutheran) paced
WLC in the first half with six points on a pair of three-pointers.
Matthew McGivern totaled seven points to lead all scorers in the
half for MBBC.
The Warriors came out much stronger in the second half, shooting
48.3 percent (14-for-29) from the field. WLC took its first lead of
the game, 35-34, with 12:55 on the clock after a Cody Jackson (Fond
du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) three-pointer. Following a 12-0
run, the Warriors led by eight points, 42-34, with 10:34 to play in
the second half.
Wisconsin Lutheran held its lead until 23 seconds left in
regulation when Maranatha's Tanner Moses tied the game at 59-59
after sinking a three-pointer from the top of the key. The Warriors
had two final chances for the win, but they could not convert and
the game was sent into overtime.
In the extra session, Demuth drained three of his six
three-pointers in the game to help propel WLC to its second
straight win. His first triple put the Warriors in front 64-63 and
he later sealed the game with a deep three-pointer for a 70-66 lead
with 15 seconds on the clock.
Demuth poured in a game-high 20 points to lead three other
Warriors in double-figure scoring. It was the third straight game
that the junior guard has led the team in points scored. Jackson
finished with 13 points,. while Strutz and Nate Bauer (Lake Mills,
Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Julion Griffin (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) grabbed a
team-high six rebounds. The Warriors concluded the game shooting
43.3 percent (26-for-60), including 66.7 percent in overtime.
For Maranatha (2-14, 0-11 NAC), Moses led three players in
double figures with 18 points, including 12 from the free-throw
line. Joel Borchardt posted a double-double with 10 points and 13
rebounds. The Crusaders finished with a 44.4 percent (20-for-45)
shooting percentage for the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-15, 4-8 NAC) plays the first of three
straight road games on Saturday afternoon when it travels to face
cross-town NAC rival MSOE (8-12, 6-6 NAC). Tip-off between the
Warriors and Raiders in set for 4:15 p.m. at the Kern Center. Fans
unable to attend the game can follow the action via live audio,
stats and video at wlcsports.com.
