Box Score MADISON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team was unable to hold off a second-half rally from Edgewood on Saturday night, falling 83-74 to the Eagles inside the Todd Wehr Edgedome. Freshman Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) scored 21 points for the Warriors, who will play Wednesday night in the opening round of the NACC Tournament against Lakeland.
- Final Score: Edgewood 83, Wisconsin Lutheran 74
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (7-3, 7-3 NACC), Edgewood (9-6, 6-4 NACC)
- Location: Todd Wehr Edgedome, Madison, Wis.
- After both teams scored on their opening possessions, the Warriors scored nine straight points to lead 11-3 just two and half minutes into the game. Stoltz scored seven points on the run, including a three in transition.
- The Eagles cut the deficit to three a couple minutes later, but junior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) responded with a three to extend the lead back to six. WLC was able to maintain a two-possession advantage and a jumper from freshman Jacob Hefle (Germantown, Wis.) gave the Warriors an 11-point lead at 32-21 with 6:21 left in the first half.
- Edgewood brought the game back within five with two minutes remaining in the half, but Wisconsin Lutheran closed with a 6-0 run to take a 47-36 lead into the halftime break. Junior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) capped the half with layup, while Stoltz and junior Isaiah Lenz (Oconomowoc, Wis.) each converted a pair of free throws.
- The Eagles scored the first seven points of the second half and trailed by four before a three from Stoltz put the Warriors back up seven. Another 7-0 Edgewood run put the hosts up one at 58-57 for its first lead since the opening minute.
- Stoltz evened the score at 61 with 9:29 remaining, but the Eagles answered with 10 consecutive points to take a 71-61 lead with seven minutes to play. WLC was able to get back within four after five straight points from junior Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.), but Edgewood went on one last run, scoring seven unanswered points in the closing minutes to win 83-74.
- Stoltz led three Warriors in double figures with 21 points on 4-of-8 shooting and 11-of-13 from the free throw line. Zuleger finished with 18 points and eight rebounds on an efficient 8-for-11 from the floor, and VanCrete added 10 points with six boards.
- Sophomore Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) finished with a team-high six assists.
- WLC shot 39.3 percent (24-of-61) from the field and connected on 26.7 percent (4-of-15) from deep. The Green and White were effective from the line converting 81.5 percent (22-of-27).
- Jake Negus scored a team-high 21 points for the Eagles, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor. He also dished out a team-high five assists and pulled down seven rebounds. Jake Graf added 18 points off the bench and Edgewood out-scored the Warriors 45-17 in bench points.
- Edgewood shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the floor and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from beyond the arc.
- The top-seeded Warriors return home after five consecutive road games for a NACC Tournament Divisional Semifinal game against fourth-seeded Lakeland (7-7, 4-6 NACC) on Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live coverage links will be available for the game at WLCSports.com.
