Feb 12, 2011
Box Score
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Edgewood College men's basketball team watched their six point halftime lead melt away during an uncharacteristic stretch of cold shooting, but regained their scoring touch just in time. The Eagles pulled out a much-needed 72-65 victory ovre Wisconsin Lutheran College, by shooting better than 60 percent from the field for the third time this season.
Edgewood College (16-7, 12-3 NAC) had fallen behind 22-16 in the early going before back-to-back hoops by senior Jeff Barczak sparked an 18-2 Eagle run. Junior Kent Faurote and Ben Wisniewski scored three baskets each during the spurt which put Edgewood College ahead of Wisconsin Lutheran College (4-18, 3-11 NAC) 34-24. The Warriors scored five of the last six points of the half to trim the Eagles' lead to 35-29 at the break.
The Eagles opened their lead up to 41-34 on a Wisniewski layup three minutes into the second half, but their shooting would suddenly turn cold. The Eagles were shooting 64.3 percent (18-for-28) at that point in the game, but made just one of their next six shots as the Warriors capitalized. Three straight baskets by DJ Cupertino, Jeremy Murphy and Russell Strutz put Wisconsin Lutheran College ahead 50-45 with a little more than 10 minutes to play.
However, as quickly as the Eagles' shooting touch left, it returned with Edgewood College nailing 10 of their next 12 shots from the field. Barczak scored five of the Eagles next six baskets with only a go-ahead jump shot by sophomore Cashton Craig intervening, to give Edgewood College a 59-55 lead with 5:25 left to play. A Warrior three-point basket from Tim Demuth cut the lead to one, but Jake Guziewski scored a layup followed by a Wisniewski three-pointer to put the Eagles back ahead 64-58.
Five straight points by Wisconsin Lutheran's Alex Merbach trimmed the Eagles' lead back to 68-65 with 1:03 remaining. The Warriors allowed Edgewood College to drain their shot clock on the next possession, but Michael Janusek snatched an offensive rebound off a miss by Faurote, forcing Wisconsin Lutheran to foul. Craig and Barczak converted four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Wisniewski scored a game-high 23 points, including all three of the Eagles' three-point baskets. Barczak and Faurote added 16 and 15, respectively, and combined to shoot 14-for-19 from the field. Barczak also had a team-high nine rebounds. Craig scored 10 points, while his back-up point guard Travis Schaaf dished out a team-high four assists. As a team, Edgewood College shot 60.4 percent (29-for-48) from the field to improve their season average to 51.7 percent. They will likely be ranked in the top three in the nation in field goal percentage when the NCAA publishes national statistical leaders on Tuesday.
Merbach led the way for the Warriors with 18 points and five rebounds, while Demuth tallied 15 points, all on 5-for-11 shooting from the three-point line. The Warriors were outrebounded by Edgewood College 36-22 for the game.
Also on that Tuesday, Edgewood College will host Concordia University Wisconsin in the Eagles' final regular season home game of the year. The Falcons clinched the NAC North Division title on Saturday with a 73-66 victory over Maranatha Baptist. Tuesday's game will be "Black Out" to honor the Eagles' only senior Jeff Barczak. Fans are encouraged to wear black to support the team.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - The Edgewood College men's basketball team watched their six point halftime lead melt away during an uncharacteristic stretch of cold shooting, but regained their scoring touch just in time. The Eagles pulled out a much-needed 72-65 victory ovre Wisconsin Lutheran College, by shooting better than 60 percent from the field for the third time this season.
Edgewood College (16-7, 12-3 NAC) had fallen behind 22-16 in the early going before back-to-back hoops by senior Jeff Barczak sparked an 18-2 Eagle run. Junior Kent Faurote and Ben Wisniewski scored three baskets each during the spurt which put Edgewood College ahead of Wisconsin Lutheran College (4-18, 3-11 NAC) 34-24. The Warriors scored five of the last six points of the half to trim the Eagles' lead to 35-29 at the break.
The Eagles opened their lead up to 41-34 on a Wisniewski layup three minutes into the second half, but their shooting would suddenly turn cold. The Eagles were shooting 64.3 percent (18-for-28) at that point in the game, but made just one of their next six shots as the Warriors capitalized. Three straight baskets by DJ Cupertino, Jeremy Murphy and Russell Strutz put Wisconsin Lutheran College ahead 50-45 with a little more than 10 minutes to play.
However, as quickly as the Eagles' shooting touch left, it returned with Edgewood College nailing 10 of their next 12 shots from the field. Barczak scored five of the Eagles next six baskets with only a go-ahead jump shot by sophomore Cashton Craig intervening, to give Edgewood College a 59-55 lead with 5:25 left to play. A Warrior three-point basket from Tim Demuth cut the lead to one, but Jake Guziewski scored a layup followed by a Wisniewski three-pointer to put the Eagles back ahead 64-58.
Five straight points by Wisconsin Lutheran's Alex Merbach trimmed the Eagles' lead back to 68-65 with 1:03 remaining. The Warriors allowed Edgewood College to drain their shot clock on the next possession, but Michael Janusek snatched an offensive rebound off a miss by Faurote, forcing Wisconsin Lutheran to foul. Craig and Barczak converted four free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Wisniewski scored a game-high 23 points, including all three of the Eagles' three-point baskets. Barczak and Faurote added 16 and 15, respectively, and combined to shoot 14-for-19 from the field. Barczak also had a team-high nine rebounds. Craig scored 10 points, while his back-up point guard Travis Schaaf dished out a team-high four assists. As a team, Edgewood College shot 60.4 percent (29-for-48) from the field to improve their season average to 51.7 percent. They will likely be ranked in the top three in the nation in field goal percentage when the NCAA publishes national statistical leaders on Tuesday.
Merbach led the way for the Warriors with 18 points and five rebounds, while Demuth tallied 15 points, all on 5-for-11 shooting from the three-point line. The Warriors were outrebounded by Edgewood College 36-22 for the game.
Also on that Tuesday, Edgewood College will host Concordia University Wisconsin in the Eagles' final regular season home game of the year. The Falcons clinched the NAC North Division title on Saturday with a 73-66 victory over Maranatha Baptist. Tuesday's game will be "Black Out" to honor the Eagles' only senior Jeff Barczak. Fans are encouraged to wear black to support the team.