Box Score MEQUON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point second-half deficit but was unable to hold off Concordia Wisconsin, falling 76-74 to the Falcons inside the R. John Buuck Fieldhouse. Junior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) led the team with 15 points as the Warriors dropped their first game of the season.
- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 76, Wisconsin Lutheran 74
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (6-1, 6-1 NACC), Concordia Wisconsin (5-3, 4-3 NACC)
- Location: R. John Buuck Fieldhouse, Mequon, Wis.
- The Falcons scored first, but the Warriors responded quickly with a layup from junior Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.) to tie the game at two. The two sides remained even for the first five minutes before a 7-0 run by Concordia Wisconsin gave the hosts a 17-9 advantage with 12 minutes left in the first half.
- VanCrete responded with a jump shot and sophomore Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) connected on a three to cut the deficit down to three, but CUW was able to keep the game just out of reach with a couple of buckets.
- With 3:21 remaining in the opening half, a jumper by VanCrete and a three from junior Solomon Zarling (West Bend, Wis.) narrowed the Falcons lead down to just one at 30-29. The Warriors were unable to get any closer and trailed 36-32 at the break.
- Concordia Wisconsin scored nine unanswered points to open the second half to take a 45-32 lead just two minutes in. Senior Randy Johnson Jr. (Milwaukee, Wis.) converted a three-point play and freshman Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) added a layup to bring the game back within single digits.
- The Warriors made it a one possession game at 51-48 following seven straight points from VanCrete. A pair of threes from Stiede later evened the score at 58-58 with 10:45 left before a jump shot by Stoltz gave WLC its first lead of the game. Wisconsin Lutheran scored the next seven points to lead 65-58 with 8:22 on the clock
- A three by Stoltz with 3:46 left forced a CUW timeout as the Warriors held a 72-65 advantage. But the Falcons came out of the timeout and scored eight unanswered points to regain a one-point lead with 1:29 remaining. Junior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) flipped the advantage back to the Warriors, but Concordia Wisconsin scored the final three points from the free throw line and forced a late turnover to hold on for a 76-74 win.
- VanCrete paced the team with 15 points on 7-of-14 shooting and Stoltz rounded out the Warriors in double figures with 13 points. WLC shot 40.8 percent (29-of-71) from the field and 28.0 percent (7-of-25) from beyond the arc.
- Zuleger, Bernhagen, and junior Isaiah Lenz (Oconomowoc, Wis.) each pulled down six rebounds and Stoltz dished out a team-high six assists.
- Wisconsin Lutheran edged Concordia Wisconsin on the glass, 38-37.
- WLC forced 17 turnovers and out-scored the Falcons 22-14 in points off turnovers.
- Jordan Johnson scored a game-high 28 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep and 11-of-11 from the free throw line. Brandon Keller added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Falcons.
- Concordia Wisconsin shot 46.4 percent (26-of-56) from the floor and 35.0 percent (7-of-20) from beyond the arc.
- The Warriors return to Mequon tomorrow night for their second matchup with the Falcons. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. inside the R. John Buuck Fieldhouse.
