Wisconsin Lutheran Falls In Seesaw Battle To Scarlet Hawks

CHICAGO, Ill. (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team fell short in a seesaw battle with host Illinois Tech on Saturday afternoon inside the Keating Sports Center. The Warriors fell 68-59 to the Scarlet Hawks in a game that featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties. WLC is now one of nine six-loss teams tied atop the NACC standings with just one game left to play.

• Final Score: Illinois Tech 68, Wisconsin Lutheran 59
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (15-7, 10-6 NACC), Illinois Tech (10-11, 9-6 NACC)
• Location: Keating Sports Center, Chicago, Ill.

• The two teams traded leads three times within the first two minutes of the game before the Scarlet Hawks went on a 10-0 run to take a 13-4 lead at the 16:11 mark, forcing the Warriors to call their first timeout.
• IIT's lead stood at nine points on three different occasions before a 12-4 run by WLC brought the visitors deficit within a point at 25-24 with 6:56 left until halftime following a layup from sophomore Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.).
• Illinois Tech went ahead again by seven points, but Wisconsin Lutheran closed the first half on a 9-2 run to tie the score at 33-33 when senior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) knocked down a jumper right before the first-half buzzer sounded. 
• The Green and White took their first lead of the second half after a 6-0 run capped by a layup from senior Zach Zuleger (West Bend, Wis.) with 14:10 remaining in the game. The lead was the first of 10 lead changes and seven ties in the second half alone.
• The Warriors took their first of four three-point leads in the second half two minutes later and led 56-63 with 6:10 on the clock after a layup from senior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.).
• WLC held onto a 58-57 lead with 3:58 to go after two free throws from sophomore Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.). 
• The Scarlet Hawks grabbed a 60-58 lead on a three-pointer with 3:35 remaining and Wisconsin Lutheran missed its final six shot attempts of the contest in an effort to take the lead back.
• IIT made six free throws down the stretch to seal the victory by tying their largest lead of the game at 68-59.
• Stoltz led three Warriors in double figures with 13 points, while sophomore Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) and Zuleger chipped in with 12 and 10 points each.
• Stoltz and junior Simeon Strauss (Chicago, Ill.) tied a team-high with six rebounds.
• WLC was held to 35.4 percent shooting for the game, but outscored Illinois Tech 34-22 in the paint and 9-2 in second chance points.

• The Warriors return home on Monday to host Concordia Chicago (12-9, 9-6 NACC) in a pivotal NACC game for Senior Night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live coverage links will be available for the game at WLCSports.com. 

MBB: Illinois Tech 68, @WLC_MBB 59

⚔️ @jacob2stoltz leads three players in double figures with 13 points.

⚔️ @grayson_goetz and Zach Zuleger add 12 and 10 points each.

⚔️ Warriors outsxore Scarlet Hawks 34-22 in the paint.#NACCtion #d3hoops

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) February 13, 2022

The Warriors will be on the road to take on a conference opponent Illinois Tech‼️

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�� | @ILTechAthletics
�� | Chicago, IL (Away)
⏰ | 4:15 PM CST
�� | February 12th 2022
��| https://t.co/UL8dovKW1m #wearewarriors pic.twitter.com/Rgfg3c71J9

— WLC Men's Basketball (@WLC_MBB) February 12, 2022

MBB: @WLC_MBB plays its last NACC road game of the season today at Illinois Tech.

��: Illinois Tech
��️: Feb. 12, 2022
��: Chicago, Ill.
⏰: 4:15 p.m.
��: https://t.co/JKZ4f5ODmu
��: https://t.co/XScJxgnuDh #NACCtion #d3hoops

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) February 12, 2022