Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
men's basketball team fell to Lakeland 96-74 Tuesday on Senior
Night in the final conference game of the season for both teams at
the Recreation Complex.
The Warriors and Muskies played a close opening five minutes as
WLC had a 10-9 lead with 15:15 remaining in the first half. A
Lakeland three-pointer sparked a 20-2 run that put the Muskies on
top with 9:22 left in the opening half. The Warriors cut the lead
to 36-26 with 4:11 left before halftime, but Lakeland responded
with another run of its own and took a 49-35 lead into the
break.
Both teams scorched the nets in the first half as the visiting
Muskies connected on 54.5 percent (18-for-33) of their shots, while
Wisconsin Lutheran made 41.9 percent (13-for-31) of its attempts.
WLC drained five three-pointers, while the Muskies dialed in on six
shots from long distance. A big difference in the first half was
Lakeland's ability to push the tempo as they out-scored the
Warriors 13-0 on fast break points.
Nate Bauer (Lake Mills, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) paced Wisconsin
Lutheran in the first half with nine points, while Russell Strutz
(Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) added seven. Lakeland's
Justin Ward had 14 points before the break to lead all first-half
scorers.
The Warriors scored the first basket of the second half and
trailed by 12 on a couple different occasions early, but the
majority of the second half saw Lakeland leading by more than 20
points. The Muskies held a game-high 30-point lead with 4:07
remaining in the game.
Each team continued their impressive shooting as WLC finished
the game at 42.2 percent (27-for-64). Lakeland connected on 55.6
percent (35-for-63) of its shots in the contest. The Muskies also
continued to push the ball, out-scoring Wisconsin Lutheran 21-0 in
fast break points.
Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran), one of two
seniors who were honored on Senior Night, scored a team-high 15
points to lead Wisconsin Lutheran. Bauer added 14 and Strutz
chipped in with 10. The other senior honored was Eric Reed (Fond du
Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran), who finished with five points and
made his only shot from behind the arc.
Jake Schwarz, who entered the game as the Northern Athletic
Conference's leading scorer and rebounder, finished with game-highs
in each category as he paced Lakeland (18-6, 12-4 NAC) with 20
points and nine rebounds. Ward finished with 18 points for the
Muskies.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-19, 4-12 NAC) will conclude its 2011-2012
season Saturday when it hosts MSOE (9-15, 7-9 NAC) in a NAC
Challenge game. Tip-off between the Warriors and Raiders is set for
4:15 p.m. at the Recreation Complex. Fans unable to attend the game
can follow the action via live audio, stats and video at
wlcsports.com.
