MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Sophomore
Sam Hans (Hartland, Wis.) led four players in double figures with a career-high 15 points and Wisconsin Lutheran College used dominant effort on the glass to secure an 84–74 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference victory over Lakeland on Saturday at Time of Grace Center.
In a tightly contested first half that featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties, the Warriors (3-5, 1-1 NACC) pieced together a 7–0 run late in the half to erase a slim 34–33 deficit. It marked the final lead change of the game as neither team held more than a four-point edge over the opening 18 minutes of the half. Hans sparked WLC with 15 first-half points on 6-of-8 shooting to help push Wisconsin Lutheran to its largest lead of the half at 44-36 heading into the locker room.
The Warriors never trailed in the second half, leading by nine after junior
Trey Luehring (Cedarburg, Wis.) converted a three-point play nearly three minutes into the half. The Muskies' best push—a 6–0 spurt near the midpoint—briefly narrowed the margin to two, but WLC responded each of the two times LU came within a basket. A key 8–0 run that ended with 2:27 left sent Wisconsin Lutheran's lead to a game-high 12 points after a layup from senior
Austin Wagner (Jackson, Wis.).
Hans finished with a career-high 15 points, all coming in the first half. Luehring and senior
Ben Lubbers (Delafield, Wis.) tallied 14 points each. Lubbers eclipsed a career-high while hitting 10 of his 12 free-throw attempts and grabbing six rebounds. Senior
Ja'Quell Chisom (Milwaukee, Wis.) delivered his third double-double of the season with a team-high 11 rebounds and 11 points. Sophomore
Pierce Arenz (Kiel, Wis.) contributed eight points off the bench.
The Warriors shot 39.2 percent (29-for-74) from the field and outscored Lakeland 42–30 in the paint. WLC posted a decisive 54–34 rebounding advantage that led to 26 second-chance points.
The Muskies (2–5, 0–3 NACC) shot 40.6 percent (26-for-64) from the floor and were paced by Peyton Mrotek's 21 points, while Parker Braun pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and added seven points.
Wisconsin Lutheran returns to NACC action on Wednesday, December 10, when it travels to Marian (3-3, 1-1 NACC) for a 7 p.m. tip-off. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
