MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Five players scored in double figures and Wisconsin Lutheran College shot a season-high 55.3 percent in a 114-79 non-conference Senior Night win over Cardinal Stritch on Tuesday at the Time of Grace Center.
The Warriors (17-7), who honored seniors
Trevor Stiede (Pulaski, Wis.),
Simeon Strauss (Chicago, Ill.),
Jake Antczak (Mukwonago, Wis.), and
Cole Hardtke (Lombard, Ill.) prior to the game, surpassed the century mark for the third time this season.
WLC trailed the Wolves (1-26) 13-12 five minutes into the contest, but a layup from junior
Jacob Hefle (Germantown, Wis.) capped an 8-0 scoring run to give the hosts the lead for good. Another 8-0 surge turned a four-point lead into a 12-point advantage with 7:57 left in the first half after a layup from junior
Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.).Â
Wisconsin Lutheran's lead reached 20 points for the first time at 49-29 following a 9-0 scoring run with 5:21 remaining. CSU trimmed its deficit down to 14 points, but the Warriors extended it to as many as 23 in the opening half before leading 61-40 at halftime. Hefle netted 16 of his 18 points in the first half, as WLC shot a sizzling 57.9 percent from the floor.
Stiede and Stoltz opened the second half with back-to-back threes as Wisconsin Lutheran came out of halftime with eight straight points. The Warriors' lead climbed to 30 points at 76-46 on a layup from freshman
Noah Howard (Waukesha, Wis.) with 14:42 on the clock. Cardinal Stritch came within 20 points nearly four minutes later, but would get no closer the rest of the way.
An 11-0 run under the five-minute mark gave WLC its largest lead of the game at 108-70 following a jumper from junior
Cole Biesterfeld (West Bend, Wis.). Wisconsin Lutheran closed out its regular season home slate with the 35-point win.
Stoltz scored a game-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting to lead five players in double figures. Hefle tied a career-high with 18 points and a game-high seven rebounds, while juniors
Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.),
AJ Vos (Lombard, Ill.), and
Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) added 10 apiece. Goetz also dished out a career-high eight assists.
In addition to their season-best shooting performance, the Warriors also set season highs for field goals made (42) and assists (29).
Stefan Popovic scored 19 points to lead three players in double figures for the Wolves, who shot 48.4 percent (31-for-64) for the game.Â
WLC concludes its regular season slate on the road Saturday at MSOEÂ (10-13, 6-10 NACC). Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wisconsin Lutheran has already clinched a first round bye in the NACC Tournament, but can secure the No. 1 overall seed with a win over the Raiders. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.
Â
