Box Score MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – Freshman Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) and sophomore Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) each scored 18 points as the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team used a big second half to defeat Lakeland 86-72 on Friday night inside the Recreation Complex. The win marked the Warriors' 16th straight home conference victory.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 86, Lakeland 72
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (4-0, 4-0 NACC), Lakeland (4-3, 3-2 NACC)
- Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.
- After the Muskies opened the scoring with a three, Stoltz got the Warriors on the board with a mid-range jump shot. Lakeland maintained a five-point lead for the first 10 minutes of the opening half before a layup from junior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) and a pair of free throws from junior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) brought WLC within one at 13-12.
- The visitors responded with a 6-0 run to take a seven-point lead, and made a layup with 5:23 remaining in the first half to take their largest lead of the game at 24-16. Wisconsin Lutheran answered with a six-point run, including a pair of second chance buckets to cut the deficit down to two. A layup from VanCrete with 0:37 seconds left in the opening half brought WLC within one at 31-30 heading into the break.
- The two sides traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second half before the Warriors scored nine unanswered points to take their first lead of the game with 16:38 remaining. Stiede opened the scoring with a three-point play and a layup from Stoltz put WLC up three at 43-40 and forced the Muskies to take a timeout.
- Lakeland evened the score in the next couple of minutes and knocked down a three to regain the lead with 11:33 left to play. Stoltz and freshman Jacob Hefle (Germantown, Wis.) answered with back-to-back threes to give the lead right back to the Warriors. The two guards would each connect on another three two minutes later as Wisconsin Lutheran pushed its lead to 63-56 with nine minutes on the clock.
- Wisconsin Lutheran's lead reached double digits after a three from Stotlz capped a 7-0 run and made the score 73-61. Lakeland got back within single digits, but the Warriors put the game away with 3:14 remaining, scoring nine straight points to extend the lead to 82-65. Stiede and VanCrete each scored four points on the run, and Stoltz finished the stretch with a make from the free throw line.
- Stiede pushed the advantage to a game-high 18 points with 1:40 left and the Warriors closed out an 86-72 victory.
- Four Warriors finished in double figures, led by 18 from both Stoltz and Stiede. VanCrete added 13 points and senior Randy Johnson Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis.) scored 10 points off the bench.
- Wisconsin Lutheran shot 38.8 percent (33-of-85) from the floor and 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from beyond the arc. After struggling in the first half, the Warriors shot an even 50.0 percent (20-of-40) in the second half, including 43.8 percent (7-of-16) from deep.
- WLC dominated the boards, out-rebounding Lakeland 60-34, including 25-9 on the offensive glass. Junior Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.) gathered a game-high 13 rebounds while VanCrete posted 10 boards for a double-double. Zuleger and Stiede each had five offensive rebounds as WLC out-scored the Muskies 25-12 in second chance points.
- Defensively, the Warriors forced 16 Lakeland turnovers, which resulted in a 20-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
- Trenton Nickel led the Muskies with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds. Jequan Pegeese totaled a team-high seven assists while Greg Barber collected 10 rebounds.
- Lakeland shot 38.1 percent (24-of-63) from the floor and 33.3 percent (10-of-30) from deep while making 14 attempts from the free throw line.
- The Warriors wrap up their two-game series against Lakeland tomorrow night inside the Recreation Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.
