Box Score MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – A 17-0 run early in the first half gave the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team a lead it never surrendered as it earned its eighth conference victory of the season, 96-63, over the visiting Marian Sabres Saturday afternoon inside the Recreation Complex. Senior Andrew Bruggink (Brookfield, Wis.) finished with a game-high 27 points to lead the Warriors.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 96, Marian 63
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (11-4, 8-2 NACC), Marian (3-12, 2-8 NACC)
- Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Wisconsin Lutheran scored on its first four possessions of the game to race out to 9-0 lead in the first two minutes. Bruggink had seven of those points, including a three-pointer on the wing.
- The Sabres went on a run of their own for the next four minutes and tied the game at 11-11 with 14:42 remaining in the opening half. WLC answered with a three from sophomore Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) and a layup from sophomore Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.) to regain a 16-11 advantage. A minute later, Bruggink knocked down a three in transition to extend the lead back to eight.
- Freshman Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) and Bernhagen each connected from beyond the arc to continue the Warriors' 17-0 run, and the hosts held a 28-11 lead with just over 10 minutes in the first half.
- Marian closed the gap to six with 4:17 left in the half before Zuleger scored five consecutive points to extend the lead back to double-digits. Wisconsin Lutheran closed the half with pair of layups to hold a 10-point advantage at 46-36.
- Sophomore Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) opened the Warriors' scoring in the second half with a three from the corner and a strong finish at the rim that resulted in an and-one. VanCrete added a pair of jumpers from the elbow with just under 14 minutes to play to give WLC a 60-45 lead.
- A three-pointer from Bernhagen with 9:17 remaining pushed the advantage back up to 17, and Bruggink connected on a midrange jumper on the following possession to give Wisconsin Lutheran a lead of 73-54. Two more quick buckets from Bruggink and Zuleger forced a Sabres timeout with seven and half to play.
- With three minutes remaining, Stiede gathered a steal and laid in the fast break while drawing the foul. After connecting on the free throw, the Warriors held a 25-point lead at 88-63. Sophomore Braden Beiermann (Lincoln, Neb.) capped off the win with a three from the wing as the Warriors won 96-63.
- Bruggink paced WLC with 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Zuleger added 19 points with a game-high nine rebounds, while VanCrete and Bernhagen rounded out the Warriors in double-figures with 16 and 11 respectively.
- Wisconsin Lutheran finished shooting 53.3 percent (32-of-60) from the field, the second-highest mark of the season.
- The Warriors shot 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from deep, which was the third-highest mark on the year. WLC was also efficient from the line, shooting 81.5 percent (22-of-27).
- The Warriors forced 16 Marian turnovers and turned them into 30 points. WLC also finished strong on the glass, out-rebounding the Sabres 40-27.
- Marian shot 34.5 percent (20-of-58) from the floor and 29.4 percent (10-of-34) from three. Trentin Fouse had a team-high 13 points, including four from deep. Most of the Sabres' scoring came from its bench, which recorded 30 points.
- Joshua Streater and Scott Paulus led the Sabres with six boards, while Streater and Blake Pedrin each had three assists.
- The Warriors continue their three-game homestand when they host Rockford (8-7, 6-4 NACC) Tuesday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available on WLCSports.com.
