ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College dropped a 90-73 non-conference decision to Augustana on Tuesday at the Roy J. Carver Center. The game was tied at halftime before the Vikings pulled away in the second half.
The first half featured eight lead changes and seven ties as the Warriors and Vikings traded baskets throughout. WLC built its largest lead at 15-10 just over five minutes gone by after a jumper from senior
Ben Lubbers (Delafield, Wis.). Wisconsin Lutheran held the lead for over 12 minutes of the first half, before a 6-0 scoring spurt gave AC its largest lead of the half at 41-36 with 2:11 left until halftime. A three-pointer from senior
Ja'Quell Chisom (Milwaukee, Wis.) and two free throws from senior
Austin Wagner (Jackson, Wis.) knotted the score at 41-41 at the break. The Warriors shot an impressive 46.4 percent (13-for-28) from the field, including 53.8 percent (7-for-13) from beyond the arc. Chisom led all first-half scorers with 14 points.
Augustana used a 12-4 scoring spurt eight-and-a-half minutes into the second half to build its first double-digit lead of the game at 64-54, but WLC stayed within striking distance at 69-65 following a jumper from
Austin Wagner with 8:12 remaining. The Vikings increased their lead back to double-digits after two free throws with 6:25 left, and maintained a double-digit lead for the final four minutes of the contest. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 35.5 percent (11-for-31) in the second half compared to the Vikings' 46.2 percent (18-for-39).
Chisom paced the Warriors, who shot 40.7 percent (24-for-59) for the game, with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, while
Austin Wagner added 13 points, and sophomore
Sam Hans (Hartland, Wis.) finished with nine. Sophomore
Pierce Arenz (Kiel, Wis.) added five points, five assists, and two steals.
AC (1-0), which shot 46.4 percent (32-for-69) overall, was led by Staishaun Kelley's 16 points, while Andre Klaver added 15. Ray Maurchie posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Augustana held decisive advantages in points in the paint (40-22) and second-chance points (18-6), while WLC converted 84.2 percent (16-for-19) from the free-throw line.
Wisconsin Lutheran (0-2) continues its season-opening road stretch on Saturday at 4 p.m. when it travels to Elmhurst (0-0) for another non-conference matchup. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
