Box Score PLYMOUTH, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team battled back from a 15-point second-half deficit and held a two-point lead with 0:39 seconds left, but Lakeland made a go-ahead three on its next possession and held on for a 77-75 win over the Warriors on Wednesday night inside Woltzen Gymnasium. The back-and-forth contest featured 14 lead changes and nine ties among the two NACC foes.
- Final Score: Lakeland 77, Wisconsin Lutheran 75
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (12-4, 7-3 NACC), Lakeland (9-8, 5-5 NACC)
- Location: Woltzen Gymnasium, Plymouth, Wis.
- The Warriors fought off three early ties and used a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead over the Muskies following a layup from senior Isaiah Lenz (Oconomowoc, Wis.) with 13:56 left in the first half.
- LU countered with a 9-0 run of its own to grab a two-point lead more than four minutes later.
- Junior Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) put WLC in front 20-19 with a three with 6:25 left before halftime. Lakeland closed out the first half on a 13-3 scoring run to carry a 38-27 lead over Wisconsin Lutheran into intermission. The Green and White were held to 32.4 percent shooting and one free throw attempt in the first 20 minutes.
- Trailing 49-34 with four minutes gone by in the second half, a 19-5 run by the Warriors brought them within a point with 11 minutes remaining following a jumper from sophomore Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.). Another 9-0 run from the visitors gave them a 64-59 advantage with six minutes to play after a pair of free throws from Stoltz.
- Seven lead changes ensued between the two teams over a four-minute span and WLC held a two-point lead with 0:39 seconds left following a three-point play from senior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.).
- The Muskies knocked down a three on their next possession and hit one more free throw before a last-second chance was turned over underneath Wisconsin Lutheran's basket.
- VanCrete and senior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) led the team with 15 points each, while Stoltz and fellow sophomore Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) tallied 11 points apiece. Goetz added six rebounds and four assists, both team highs.
- The Green and White shot 42.4 percent for the game, including 55.2 percent in the second half. The Warriors held a slim advantage in points off turnovers (17-11) and bench points (23-20).
- The Warriors next travel to Rockford on Saturday for a 4:15 p.m. contest against the Regents (9-6, 3-5 NACC). Live coverage links will be available for the game at WLCSports.com.
