MADISON, Wis. - A 12-2 second-half run proved to be too much for the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team as it fell to Northern Athletics Conference opponent Edgewood 70-65 Saturday afternoon at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.
The Warriors jumped out to a fast start as they scored the game's first six points, including four from Julion Griffin (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) just 1:32 into action. Edgewood responded with an 8-0 run for an 8-6 lead with 15:27 remaining in the first half.
Wisconsin Lutheran responded with a 9-0 run of its own and went in front 15-8. WLC then built its lead to a game-high 10 points after a Russell Strutz (Sturtevant, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) three-pointer with 8:32 remaining in the period. Edgewood began to cut into the Warriors' lead and a Ben Wisniewski jumper with two seconds remaining in the half made the score 29-28 in favor of WLC at the break.
WLC shot the ball extremely well in the opening half by connecting on 50 percent (13-for-26) of its shots. Edgewood made just 35 percent (7-for-20) of its first-half shots but went 11-for-13 from the free throw line. Wisconsin Lutheran went to the charity stripe just twice in the first half.
Alex Merbach (Kaukauna, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) scored nine points in the opening 20 minutes to pace the Warriors. Wisniewski had 13 points for the Eagles to lead all scorers.
The first 12 minutes of the second half was a back-and-forth contest as the two teams played to five ties and nine lead changes. The final tie of the game came with 8:47 remaining (44-44). From that point, the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to take a 56-46 lead with 5:06 to play.
The Warriors fought back and cut into the Eagles' lead. WLC came within three points with 1:49 to play as Tim Demuth (Franksville, Wis./Racine Lutheran) made a three-pointer to bring the score to 64-61. Edgewood answered with a basket, but a pair of Griffin free throws trimmed the margin to three again with 41 seconds remaining.
EC made one free throw on its ensuing possession and a Merbach layup with 20 seconds left brought Wisconsin Lutheran to within just two points at 67-65. Edgewood again made just one of two from the line and gave the Warriors the ball back with 18 seconds left and a chance for the tie. On that possession, WLC turned the ball over and Edgewood made a pair of free throws to come away with the 70-65 Senior Day win.
The Warriors cooled down after their impressive first-half shooting as they made 37.5 percent (12-for-32) of their second-half shots and finished the game shooting 43.1 percent (25-for-58). Edgewood heated up after halftime by shooting 61.9 percent (13-for-21) in the second half and 48.8 percent (20-for-41) for the game.
The Warriors were solid at the free throw line as they made 10-of-11 attempts, but Edgewood got to the line 21 more times than WLC and connected on 26 of its attempts.
Merbach finished with a game-high 19 points to lead Wisconsin Lutheran, while Cody Jackson (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) and Strutz chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Wisniewski led Edgewood (18-5, 12-3 NAC) with 17 points and was one of five Eagles to finish in double figures.
Wisconsin Lutheran (5-18, 4-11 NAC) returns to the Recreation Complex on Tuesday night for its final conference game of the season when it hosts Lakeland (17-6, 11-4 NAC). The Senior Night tip-off between Warriors and Muskies is set for 7 p.m. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action live via audio, stats and video at wlcsports.com.