Dominant Defensive Showing Pushes Wisconsin Lutheran Into NACC Title Game

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Senior Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) scored a game-high 20 points to lead four players in double figures and send top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College to the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Final following a 71-55 semifinal win over fourth-seeded Rockford on Thursday at the Time of Grace Center.

The Warriors (23-4), who set a program record for wins in a season, advance to their third NACC Tournament Final in the last four seasons after holding the Regents (18-9) to their second-lowest point total of the season.

WLC jumped out to an early 10-5 lead behind five points from Goetz. Both teams exchanged baskets and Wisconsin Lutheran held a 17-14 lead with 12 minutes to play in the first half. The Warriors responded with an 8-0 run led by two more baskets from Goetz to give WLC a 25-14 advantage with 9:27 remaining. The sides continued to go back and forth but a 12-3 run to close out the half by Wisconsin Lutheran, led by nine points from senior AJ Vos (Lombard, Ill.), put them ahead 39-23. Vos and Goetz both had 11 points in the opening half.

The Warriors came out hot to start the second half, scoring the first 10 points, six of which came from senior Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) to open up a game-high 26-point lead. RU responded with a 14-2 run, resulting in a 51-37 deficit with 12:40 remaining. Each team continued exchanging buckets and WLC still maintained a 14-point lead with seven minutes left. Rockford cut the lead to 10 with 5:30 remaining, but never got any closer. A three-point play from senior Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) gave Wisconsin Lutheran a 65-51 lead with under three minutes to go. 

Goetz paced the Warriors with a game-high 20 points and nine rebounds. Broeckel finished with a double-double of 19 points and 11 boards. Vos tallied 16 points and nine rebounds, while Stoltz added 14 points and a game-high five assists. WLC shot 40.9 percent (27-for-66) for the game and outscored the Regents 14-5 in points off turnovers.

Jaden Bell was one of four RU players to finish in double figures, as he posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Rockford shot 33.9 percent (19-for-56) from the floor.

For the second straight year, Wisconsin Lutheran will host second-seeded St. Norbert (22-5) in the NACC Tournament Final on Saturday at 4 p.m. The winner receives the NACC's automatic berth to the 2024 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.