MANKATO, Minn. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College nearly overcame a 20-point second half deficit, but fell 95-87 to Bethany Lutheran in a non-conference battle of defending league champions on Saturday at North Gymnasium.

The Warriors (1-1), who held a lead for just 0:20 seconds in the game, trimmed a 20-point deficit down to just one with 1:47 left before falling late to the Vikings (2-0).

BLC used a 14-0 scoring run to turn away a two-point WLC lead for a 19-7 advantage with 14:11 left in the first half. Wisconsin Lutheran trailed by as many as 13 points twice in the opening stanza, but whittled its deficit down to just one at 33-32 on a bucket from senior Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) with 6:51 left before halftime. Bethany Lutheran upped its lead back to 12 points with 3:47 remaining, but the Warriors closed the first half on a 9-0 scoring run to trail by just three points, 48-45, at the break. Seniors Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) and Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) scored 15 and 12 points, respectively, in the opening half.

The Vikings went on a 9-0 scoring run of their own to build a game-high 20-point lead at the 12:49 mark of the second half. WLC trimmed its deficit down to single digits at 79-70 following a Stoltz three-pointer with 7:37 left to play. Wisconsin Lutheran continued to chip away and came within a point at 88-87 after a layup from Broeckel with 1:47 on the clock. BLC countered with a three-pointer on its next possession and made its final four free throw attempts to hold off the Warriors' late charge.

Stoltz tied for a game-high 24 points to pace five players in double figures. Broeckel finished with 17 points, freshman Dom Hill (Waukesha, Wis.) added 13 points, while Goetz and sophomore Austin Wagner (Jackson, Wis.) had 12 and 10 points apiece. Goetz also added seven rebounds and four assists. Senior AJ Vos (Lombard, Ill.) pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds for WLC, which shot 44.7 percent (34-for-76) from the floor.

Wisconsin Lutheran hosts Lawrence (0-2) next Saturday for its home opener at 2 p.m. at the Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.