MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College had Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference co-leader Aurora on the ropes, but the visiting Spartans escaped Time of Grace Center with a 103-100 overtime win on Wednesday.
The Spartans (18-3, 13-1 NACC) scored the first four points of the game and held a 26-23 lead with 6:24 remaining in a tightly-contested first half. The Warriors, who jumped in front by using a 9-1 scoring run to take a 32-27 lead, closed out the opening 20 minutes with another 8-2 spurt over the final 2:29 for a 40-31 halftime advantage. Senior
Ja'Quell Chisom (Milwaukee, Wis.) led all scorers with 11 points as WLC shot 55.2 percent from the floor in the first half.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-15, 3-10 NACC) extended its lead to double-digits for the first time at 50-38 following a three-pointer from Chisom with 16:42 left in the second half. The Warriors held a double-digit advantage for much of the half, increasing it to a game-high 24 points at 78-54 at the 8:57 mark after a three-pointer from senior
Austin Wagner (Jackson, Wis.). Another three-pointer from freshman
Bryce Appel (Edgerton, Wis.) had WLC in front 82-62 with 6:12 remaining.
AU used a 9-0 run to cut its deficit to 10 points with 3:35 remaining. A pair of free throws from sophomore
Lucas Anamndu (Buffalo Grove, Ill.) bought Wisconsin Lutheran's lead back up to 13 points at 93-80 with 2:23 left, but Aurora forced five turnovers over the final 2:11 and closed regulation on a 14-1 run, including a rebound putback at the buzzer, to force overtime with the score knotted at 94-94.
The Spartans scored first in overtime, but four straight from the Warriors put them in front 98-96 with 2:22 left. A 7-0 run by AU put them in front for good, and despite a layup at the buzzer, escaped with a three-point win.
WLC shot 52.1 percent (37-of-71) from the field for the game, including an impressive 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from beyond the arc. Chisom led Wisconsin Lutheran with 26 points, while Appel added 21. Anamndu scored 15 points and dished out six assists, and
Austin Wagner finished with 12 points. Chisom also paced the Warriors on the boards with 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season.
Aurora finished the night shooting 47.4 percent (37-for-78), but just 57.1 percent (24-for-42) from the charity stripe. The Spartans placed six players in double figures, led by Mekhi Doby's game-high 30 points. Jeffery Hillmer added 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
WLC returns to action on Saturday, February 7, hosting Concordia Chicago (6-14, 5-8 NACC) at 3:15 p.m. at Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
