MILWAUKEE – MSOE's Oren Bloom's rebound basket with 3.7 seconds remaining was enough for the hosts to defeat the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team 54-53 on Saturday afternoon in a Northern Athletics Conference contest at the Kern Center.
Wisconsin Lutheran took the lead at 53-52 with 18 seconds remaining when Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) converted a three-point play. MSOE got its go-ahead basket from Bloom's offensive rebound putback and WLC turned the ball over on its final possession as the Raiders escaped with the win.
The Warriors started the game strong as they built a 13-9 lead during the first 9:35 of play. Nate Bauer (Lake Mills, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran) and Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) both hit three-pointers during the opening span.
The Raiders scored the next four points to tie the game at 13-13 and then went on a 15-4 run from that point on to take a 28-17 lead with 3:30 remaining in the half. MSOE kept that 11-point lead at 32-21 before Cody Jackson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) knocked down a pair of free throws with 52 seconds remaining to make the halftime score 32-23.
WLC struggled shooting the ball in the opening half as it made just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) of its field goals, compared to MSOE's 40.9 percent (9-for-22). Both teams took care of the basketball in the first 20 minutes as Wisconsin Lutheran turned it over just four times and the Raiders just five.
Merbach scored six points to lead a balanced Warriors lineup in the first half as five players had at least four points before halftime. Bloom and Victor Bande led all scorers in the period as each player had eight points for the host Raiders.
MSOE led 44-34 with 9:01 remaining in the game before Wisconsin Lutheran started its run to get back into the game. The Warriors cut the Raiders' lead to 50-48 after Julion Griffin (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) made a pair of free throws with 3:20 remaining.
The Raiders went back up by four, but WLC scored the next five points, including the three-point play by Strutz to take its first lead of the second half. That lead only lasted 15 seconds after Bloom's game-winner.
The Warriors shot much better in the second half, connecting on 42.3 percent (11-for-26) of their shot attempts. MSOE made 32 percent (8-for-25) of its second-half field goals. Wisconsin Lutheran also forced 11 turnovers in the second half and gave it up just five times.
Merbach was the lone Warrior to finish in double-figures as he scored a team-best 10 points, while also pulling down a team-best five rebounds. John Cording scored a game-high 13 points for MSOE (9-12, 7-6 NAC), while Bloom added 12 for the Raiders.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-16, 4-9 NAC) returns to action on Wednesday when it travels to Fond du Lac, Wis. for a crucial NAC contest against Marian (8-13, 5-8). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Sadoff Gymnasium. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action via live audio, stats and video at wlcsports.com.