Box Score
Box score
MADISON, Wis. - A 12-2 second-half run proved
to be too much for the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball
team as it fell to Northern Athletics Conference opponent Edgewood
70-65 Saturday afternoon at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
The Warriors jumped out to a fast start as they scored the
game's first six points, including four from Julion Griffin
(Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) just 1:32 into action.
Edgewood responded with an 8-0 run for an 8-6 lead with 15:27
remaining in the first half.
Wisconsin Lutheran responded with a 9-0 run of its own and went
in front 15-8. WLC then built its lead to a game-high 10 points
after a Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran)
three-pointer with 8:32 remaining in the period. Edgewood began to
cut into the Warriors' lead and a Ben Wisniewski jumper with two
seconds remaining in the half made the score 29-28 in favor of WLC
at the break.
WLC shot the ball extremely well in the opening half by
connecting on 50 percent (13-for-26) of its shots. Edgewood made
just 35 percent (7-for-20) of its first-half shots but went
11-for-13 from the free throw line. Wisconsin Lutheran went to the
charity stripe just twice in the first half.
Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) scored nine
points in the opening 20 minutes to pace the Warriors. Wisniewski
had 13 points for the Eagles to lead all scorers.
The first 12 minutes of the second half was a back-and-forth
contest as the two teams played to five ties and nine lead changes.
The final tie of the game came with 8:47 remaining (44-44). From
that point, the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to take a 56-46 lead with
5:06 to play.
The Warriors fought back and cut into the Eagles' lead. WLC came
within three points with 1:49 to play as Tim Demuth (Franksville,
Wis./Racine Lutheran) made a three-pointer to bring the score
to 64-61. Edgewood answered with a basket, but a pair of Griffin
free throws trimmed the margin to three again with 41 seconds
remaining.
EC made one free throw on its ensuing possession and a Merbach
layup with 20 seconds left brought Wisconsin Lutheran to within
just two points at 67-65. Edgewood again made just one of two from
the line and gave the Warriors the ball back with 18 seconds
left and a chance for the tie. On that possession, WLC turned the
ball over and Edgewood made a pair of free throws to come away with
the 70-65 Senior Day win.
The Warriors cooled down after their impressive first-half
shooting as they made 37.5 percent (12-for-32) of their second-half
shots and finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (25-for-58).
Edgewood heated up after halftime by shooting 61.9 percent
(13-for-21) in the second half and 48.8 percent (20-for-41) for the
game.
The Warriors were solid at the free throw line as they made
10-of-11 attempts, but Edgewood got to the line 21 more times than
WLC and connected on 26 of its attempts.
Merbach finished with a game-high 19 points to lead Wisconsin
Lutheran, while Cody Jackson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran)
and Strutz chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Wisniewski led Edgewood (18-5, 12-3 NAC) with 17 points and was
one of five Eagles to finish in double figures.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-18, 4-11 NAC) returns to the Recreation
Complex on Tuesday night for its final conference game of the
season when it hosts Lakeland (17-6, 11-4 NAC). The Senior Night
tip-off between Warriors and Muskies is set for 7 p.m. Fans unable
to attend the game can follow the action live via audio, stats and
video at wlcsports.com.
