Box Score MADISON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team claimed a share of its first conference championship in 18 years after defeating Edgewood 86-81 on Saturday afternoon inside the Todd Wehr Edgedome. Senior Andrew Bruggink (Brookfield, Wis.) became the 22nd player in program history to surpass 1,000 career points after scoring a game-high 26 to lead three players in double figures. The Warriors tied for the regular season title with Benedictine, which lost 88-79 in overtime to Concordia Wisconsin earlier today. WLC will be the second seed in next week's NACC Tournament by virtue of a tie-breaking coin flip.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 86, Edgewood 81
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (19-6, 16-4 NACC), Edgewood (8-17, 7-13 NACC)
- Location: Todd Wehr Edgedome, Madison, Wis.
- The opening five minutes of the game featured five lead changes and two ties as the Eagles held a slim 10-8 lead over the Warriors.
- WLC trailed 18-17 following a jumper from senior Matty Farner (Muskego, Wis.), before Edgewood scored five straight to take a six-point lead with just over eight minutes left in the first half.
- Trailing 28-21, Wisconsin Lutheran used an 8-2 spurt capped by a corner three by sophomore Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) to close within a point with 3:43 left before halftime. The Green and White tied the game for third time just 30 seconds later when Farner completed a three-point play.
- Edgewood closed the final 2:28 of the first half by out-scoring the Warriors 10-3 to carry a 42-35 lead into halftime. WLC shot 44.1 percent in the first half, compared to the Eagles' 41.0 percent.
- Wisconsin Lutheran came out strong in the second half, opening with an 11-2 scoring run to take its first lead since 2-0. The Green and White hit five straight free throws, the final two from Bruggink at the 16:37 mark to become the 22nd player in program history to score 1,000 career points.
- Neither team was able to pull away for more than a four-point lead as the lead changed hands three times over the next 7:30 of the second half.
- The Warriors pulled ahead for a 66-60 lead with 8:25 left after a jumper from senior Colin Biesterfeld (West Bend, Wis.). WLC's lead hovered between five and seven points until just over a minute left when the Eagles cut it to four at 82-78 following a three-pointer.
- Wisconsin Lutheran made four of six free throws over the final 1:04 to seal a share of its first conference title since 2001-02.
- Bruggink scored a game-high 26 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead three players in double figures. He stands at 1,014 career points in just two seasons at WLC.
- Farner tied his career high scoring 18 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) added 14 points to round out the double-figure scorers.
- VanCrete pulled down 10 rebounds as Wisconsin Lutheran out-rebounded EC 46-40. The Green and White's 10 offensive rebounds led to 13 second chance points
- The Warriors shot 45.5 percent (30-for-66) for the game and 77.4 percent (24-for-31) from the free throw line. The visitors were held to a season-low 14.3 percent (2-for-14) from three.
- WLC, which has not lost back-to-back games this season, won its third straight over Edgewood in the series.
- Jake Negus paced three Eagles players in double figures with 23 points. EC shot 39.7 percent (27-for-68) for the game and out-scored the Warriors 26-10 in points off turnovers.
- The second-seeded Warriors have a bye in the first round of the NACC Tournament and will host the highest remaining seed on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. in a semifinal matchup. Live stats and video will be available for the game at WLCSports.com. Check out the NACC Men's Basketball Tournament page for more information.
