Wisconsin Lutheran Holds Off Lawrence For Home-Opening Win

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Senior Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) scored a game-high 22 points to lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to a 79-67 wire-to-wire home-opening non-conference win over Lawrence on Saturday at the Time of Grace Center. 

The Warriors (2-1), who never trailed in the contest, jumped out to a 9-0 lead over the Vikings (0-4) at the 17:13 mark behind seven points from Goetz. A layup from senior Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) gave WLC its first double-digit lead with 12:52 remaining.

LU came within four points with 7:09 left, but Wisconsin Lutheran later tied its largest lead of the game of 15 points behind a 7-0 scoring run with 2:35 remaining before halftime. The Warriors, who went into the locker room in front 44-31, were paced by senior Jacob Stoltz's (Kewaskum, Wis.) 13 first-half points.

Lawrence scored the first five points out of the break, but WLC responded yet again with a 10-3 scoring run to tie its largest lead of 15 points at the 15:32 mark. The Vikings closed to within six points with just under six minutes to play, before Goetz netted five of the team's next seven points for an 11-point lead.

LU came no closer than eight during the final 1:35 and Wisconsin Lutheran's final five points came from the free throw line to seal the 12-point victory.

Goetz led all scorers with 22 points on 10-for-15 shooting with six assists. Stoltz finished with 19 points, while Broeckel stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six blocks, and four assists. The Warriors shot 51.7 percent (31-for-60) for the game 

Matthew Kaznikov scored 18 points to lead three in double figures for Lawrence, which shot 40.7 percent (24-for-59). 

WLC next hosts UW-Stevens Point (2-1) on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. at the Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.