Box Score MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – One game after setting a new career high, senior Andrew Bruggink (Brookfield, Wis.) established another career best with 38 points, as the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team improved to 9-1 at home and 10-2 in the NACC following a 95-86 win over Aurora Saturday afternoon inside the Recreation Complex. The Warriors secured their first-ever season sweep over the Spartans with the win.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 95, Aurora 86
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (13-4, 10-2 NACC), Aurora (5-12, 4-8 NACC)
- Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Wisconsin Lutheran raced out to a quick 9-3 lead just over three minutes into the game behind five points from Bruggink and four from sophomore Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.). Four minutes later, Aurora capped off a 12-2 run with a layup and took a 15-11 lead to force a WLC timeout.
- Bruggink tied the game at 18-18 with 9:27 remaining in the opening half on a three-point make from the wing. The Spartans answered with a three of their own on the following possession to regain the advantage. Later in the half, Aurora pushed its lead up to seven with a three and held a 32-25 lead with 4:41 to play in the opening half.
- Trailing by six with three minutes to play in the half, the Warriors went on an 11-0 run to take a 39-34 advantage with 0:57 seconds remaining. Senior Andrew Wojcik (Brookfield, Wis.) found the bottom of the net from deep and Bruggink hit a midrange jumper to cap off the scoring run. A trio of free throws right before the half by Bruggink gave WLC a 42-36 lead at the break.
- Sophomore Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) opened the second half scoring with a three-pointer to push the lead up to nine for the Warriors. The Spartans brought the game back to within five before Bernhagen finished strong on a fast break and completed the three-point play from the line. A minute later, Bernhagen scored on a jumper from the elbow to extend the hosts' lead to 10 points at 52-42.
- A Spartans three at the 10:48 mark closed the gap down to just three points but Wisconsin Lutheran was able to regain control on four free throw conversions. Wojcik extended the lead back up to seven with a three from the corner with just under eight minutes remaining.
- With several more conversions from the charity stripe, WLC was able to push its advantage back up to 10 at 81-71 and 3:48 left.
- The Spartans came as close as seven late in the game but were never able to get closer than that as Bernhagen and junior Randy Johnson Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis.) were able to connect on jumpers and trips to the free throw line as the Warriors won 95-86.
- Bruggink finished with a game- and career-high 38 points, the fourth time this season he has finished with at least 30 points in a game. He knocked down all four of his three-point attempts and shot 12-of-18 from the floor while leading the Warriors with nine rebounds and four steals.
- Bernhagen added 19 points off the bench, while VanCrete's 13 and Wojcik's 12 rounded out the Warriors in double figures.
- Wisconsin Lutheran shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the field and 39.1 percent (9-of-23) from beyond the arc. The Green and White's 26 made free throws were the second-highest mark of the season.
- The Warriors defense forced 17 Aurora turnovers and recorded seven steals, the fifth consecutive game with at least seven. WLC turned those turnovers into 20 points.
- After winning at Aurora earlier this season, WLC swept the season series over the Spartans for the first time in program history.
- Will Hrubes led the way for the Spartans with 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting including 3-of-4 from three. Shamar Pumphrey added 16 points and a game-high six assists.
- Aurora shot 44.3 percent (27-of-61) from the floor and 45 percent (9-of-20) from deep. The visitors were efficient from the line, knocking down 82.1 percent (23-of-28) with 17 makes from the stripe coming in the second half.
- The Warriors travel to Lakeland (8-9, 6-6 NACC) on Wednesday with tip-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The Muskies defeated Marian today, 95-59, for their second straight win. Live stats and video will be available for the game at WLCSports.com.
