MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team overcame a 17-point first-half deficit and outlasted visiting Maranatha 72-66 in overtime on Tuesday night in a Northern Athletics Conference North Division game at the Recreation Complex.

The Crusaders netted the first five points of the game, before a three-pointer from Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) brought WLC within two points at the 17:16 mark. However, those would be the final points that the Warriors would score for nearly the next five minutes as Maranatha led by game-high 17 points, 20-3, with 12:22 left in the first half.

Following its long scoring drought, Wisconsin Lutheran began to slowly chip away at the Crusaders lead. The Warriors trailed by just seven points, 26-19, at halftime.

WLC shot just 32.0 percent (8-for-25) in the first half, while the Crusaders shot 45.5 percent (10-for-22). The Warriors' deficit was due in large part to a 12-2 advantage in points off turnovers for Maranatha. Tim Demuth (Franksville, Wis./Racine Lutheran) paced WLC in the first half with six points on a pair of three-pointers. Matthew McGivern totaled seven points to lead all scorers in the half for MBBC.

The Warriors came out much stronger in the second half, shooting 48.3 percent (14-for-29) from the field. WLC took its first lead of the game, 35-34, with 12:55 on the clock after a Cody Jackson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) three-pointer. Following a 12-0 run, the Warriors led by eight points, 42-34, with 10:34 to play in the second half.

Wisconsin Lutheran held its lead until 23 seconds left in regulation when Maranatha's Tanner Moses tied the game at 59-59 after sinking a three-pointer from the top of the key. The Warriors had two final chances for the win, but they could not convert and the game was sent into overtime.

In the extra session, Demuth drained three of his six three-pointers in the game to help propel WLC to its second straight win. His first triple put the Warriors in front 64-63 and he later sealed the game with a deep three-pointer for a 70-66 lead with 15 seconds on the clock.

Demuth poured in a game-high 20 points to lead three other Warriors in double-figure scoring. It was the third straight game that the junior guard has led the team in points scored. Jackson finished with 13 points,. while Strutz and Nate Bauer (Lake Mills, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) added 11 and 10 points, respectively. Julion Griffin (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) grabbed a team-high six rebounds. The Warriors concluded the game shooting 43.3 percent (26-for-60), including 66.7 percent in overtime.

For Maranatha (2-14, 0-11 NAC), Moses led three players in double figures with 18 points, including 12 from the free-throw line. Joel Borchardt posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The Crusaders finished with a 44.4 percent (20-for-45) shooting percentage for the game.

Wisconsin Lutheran (5-15, 4-8 NAC) plays the first of three straight road games on Saturday afternoon when it travels to face cross-town NAC rival MSOE (8-12, 6-6 NAC). Tip-off between the Warriors and Raiders in set for 4:15 p.m. at the Kern Center. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action via live audio, stats and video at wlcsports.com.