Box Score MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – Junior Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.) scored a team-high 18 points and finished two rebounds shy of a school record to lead the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team to an 83-61 win over Marian on Saturday night inside the Recreation Complex. Zuleger, who led five players in double figures, finished with 20 rebounds, six assists, and three blocks.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 83, Marian 61
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (2-0, 2-0 NACC), Marian (1-4, 0-4 NACC)
- Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Juniors Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) and Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) each knocked down a three in the first minute for the Warriors to help them take a quick 6-0 lead. VanCrete added a layup and another three in the following minutes to push the lead to 10 points at 14-4 with 16:41 remaining in the opening half.
- A 9-0 Wisconsin Lutheran run, led by seven points from Zuleger gave the home team its largest lead of the first half at 23-7 and forced a Sabres timeout.
- Marian responded with an 8-0 run to close the gap to eight, and later connected on a pair of threes to bring the score within four at 27-23. Bernhagen responded quickly, knocking down a three on the following possession to bring the lead back to seven.
- The Sabres closed the first half with a 6-0 spurt to shrink WLC's advantage down to three at 36-33.
- The Warriors wasted little time to start the second half, scoring seven straight points to extend the lead back to 10. Sophomore Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) forced a pair of turnovers which turned into quick transition points for the Warriors, and Bernhagen converted a three-point play on the run.
- Marian cut the lead in half, but Wisconsin Lutheran went on its largest scoring stretch of the game, scoring 14 straight points to put the hosts up 57-38. VanCrete scored seven points on the run, Stiede added five, and freshman Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) started the surge with a jump shot.
- With 6:43 remaining in the game, Stotlz converted a pair of free throws to give the Warriors their largest lead of the game at 73-48. WLC and Marian traded points for the final six minutes, as the Green and White closed out an 83-61 victory.
- Five Warriors finished in double figures, led by 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting from Zuleger. VanCrete added 17 points, while Stoltz and Bernhagen each scored 14. Stiede rounded out the Warriors who reached double digits with 10 points.
- Zuleger grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds, just two off Jim Wendt's record-breaking performance set in 1992 against Lawrence University. Wisconsin Lutheran out-rebounded the Sabres 46-32, including 14-5 on the offensive glass.
- WLC assisted on 21 of 27 made field goals, paced by six from Zuleger and four from Stiede.
- Stiede posted six steals as the team finished with 11. The Warriors out-scored Marian 27-13 in points off turnovers and 34-18 on points in the paint.
- It was the sixth straight win for the Green and White over Marian.
- David Britton and Tyler Gouin led the Sabres in scoring for the second consecutive game. Briton scored 26 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including five makes from beyond the arc, while Gouin dropped 22 points on 8-of-21 shooting.
- Marian shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the floor and 42.1 percent (8-of-19) from deep. The Sabres converted 13-of-18 attempts from the free throw line, good for 72.2 percent.
- The Warriors travel to MSOE (2-3, 0-2 NACC) on Monday night for their first road game of the season. Tip-off inside the Kern Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.
