WLC Rolls CUW Behind Broeckel's 37 Points, 20 Rebounds

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Junior Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) posted career highs of 37 points and 20 rebounds to lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to an 88-73 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference-opening win over Concordia Wisconsin on Tuesday at the Time of Grace Center.

The Warriors (3-3, 1-0 NACC) erased a brief two-point deficit five minutes into the game with a 14-0 scoring run, their largest of the game. Juniors Jacob Hefle (Germantown, Wis.) and AJ Vos (Lombard, Ill.) along with seniors Simeon Strauss (Chicago, Ill.) and Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.) all made three's during the run.

The Falcons (1-4, 0-3 NACC) cut their deficit to three points at 25-22, forcing a WLC timeout with eight minutes left in the first half. CUW took a brief 30-29 lead with 4:10 remaining in the half, before Broeckel broke a string of three ties with a layup to send Wisconsin Lutheran into the locker room with a 39-37 halftime lead.

The Warriors broke away from a three-point lead just over four minutes into the second half with a 10-0 scoring run, capped by a Hefle three-pointer. Concordia Wisconsin closed to within eight points at 60-52 with 10:10 left to play, but a 9-0 WLC scoring spurt extended the lead to 17 points with 8:42 remaining. Wisconsin Lutheran's lead reached as many as 19 points twice under the six-minute mark before winning by the 15-point margin.

Broeckel more than doubled his previous career point output, finishing with 37 points on 16-for-28 shooting. He also grabbed 20 rebounds, besting his previous career high by seven boards. 

Stiede added a season-high 12 points on four three-pointers, while Vos finished with 11 points. 

The Warriors, who shot 38.4 percent for the game, out-scored the Falcons 29-7 in points off turnovers and 30-10 in second chance points. WLC forced 18 turnovers and out-rebounded CUW 25-8 on the offensive glass.

Freeman Jackson led three players in double figures with 19 points for CUW, which shot 54.5 percent for the game.

Wisconsin Lutheran remains home on Saturday for a 2 p.m. NACC contest against Edgewood (0-5, 0-1 NACC). Live coverage links will be available for the game at WLCSports.com.