APPLETON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College opened its 2026-2027 season with an 82-69 non-conference loss to Lawrence on Tuesday at Alexander Gymnasium.

The Warriors (0-1) and Vikings (1-1) battled through a tightly contested first half that featured eight lead changes and seven ties. WLC was led early by senior Danny Staskunas (New Berlin, Wis.), who caught fire from beyond the arc and scored 21 of his game-high 24 points in the opening half. LU answered with balanced offense, including a strong start from CJ Campbell, who finished with a team-high 18 points. Wisconsin Lutheran used a 7-0 run at the end of the first half, capped by a Staskunas three-pointer with 36 seconds remaining, to take a 40-39 lead into halftime.

The Warriors carried that momentum into the second half and built their largest lead of the game at 47-41 following a three-pointer from sophomore Isaiah Mellock (Greendale, Wis.) with 16:57 left. Lawrence responded with seven straight points to move back in front, and after WLC tied the game at 50-50, the Vikings used a decisive 21-5 run to take control. LU stretched its lead to as many as 17 points late in the second half and outscored Wisconsin Lutheran 43-29 after halftime to secure the win.

The Warriors shot 42.9 percent from the floor, finishing 24-for-56, including 8-for-22 from three-point range for 36.4 percent.

Staskunas paced WLC with 24 points, including five three-pointers. Sophomore Bryce Appel (Edgerton, Wis.) added 14 points, while junior Andrew Rocksvold (Eau Claire, Wis.) finished with 12 points and a team-high six rebounds. Junior Cade Kohnen (West Bend, Wis.) also pulled down six rebounds and led Wisconsin Lutheran with three assists. Mellock contributed eight points, five rebounds, and two assists, while junior Trey Raabe (Mukwonago, Wis.) added five rebounds.

Lawrence shot 48.2 percent overall on 27-for-56 shooting and connected on 10 of its 26 attempts from beyond the arc for 38.5 percent. The Vikings also held the advantage at the free-throw line, where they went 18-for-26 compared to the Warriors' 13-for-21.

Campbell led LU with 18 points, while Casey Schoenecker and Hogan Demovsky each scored 16. Nicholas Gouriotis added 10 points. Caleb Nash recorded a team-high eight rebounds and six assists, while Schoenecker added six rebounds and five assists. Demovsky also collected six rebounds.

WLC returns to action on Saturday, November 14 when it hosts Lake Forest (1-0) at 4 p.m. for its home opener at Time of Grace Center.