Jan 11, 2012
Box Score
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Lately, the Edgewood College men's basketball team hasn't shot as well as they usually do, in dropping three of their last four games, but something about Wisconsin Lutheran College's Recreation Complex must have felt right to the Eagles. Edgewood College shot 81.8 percent in the first half and cruised to an 82-66 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday night. For the game, Edgewood College shot 66 percent from the field, marking the fourth highest single game shooting percentage in school history.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (2-12, 1-5 NAC) defied their record early on and grabbed an early 5-0 lead against the Eagles. Edgewood College answered by hitting seven of their first eight shots, but weren't able to wrest the lead from the Warriors. Cashton Craig and Michael Janusek hit three-point baskets and Kent Faurote had back-to-back layups during that stretch, but after another inside bucket by Justin Williams, the Eagles and Warriors were still tied at 16.
Derek Nkemnji converted a three-point play, but a bucket from Wisconsin Lutheran's Kyle Stelse gave the Warriors a 24-19 lead with a little more than nine minutes to go before halftime. However, Craig would launch the Eagles on a stunning 23-5 run to end the first half. The Eagles made 11 of their last 12 shots of the half with Craig doing most of the damage. The junior from Madison scored 11 straight points for the Eagles to turn a three-point deficit into a six-point lead at 32-26. Williams scored back-to-back layups to push the lead to 10, before Nkemnji and Faurote assisted each other on back-to-back possessions. Two free throws by Williams in the final minute gave Edgewood College (11-3, 5-1 NAC) a 42-29 halftime lead.
The Warriors got back to within nine points at 47-38 early in the second half, but a slam dunk from Williams and another three-pointer from Craig pushed the lead back to 55-38 and put the Eagles in cruise control for the remainder of the game. The Eagles largest lead of the game came at 65-44 on a Ben Wisniewski free throw with seven and a half minutes left to play.
Craig and Williams were the stars of the night for the Eagles. Craig went 8-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-4 at the three-point line and matched a season-high with 19 points. Williams helped the Eagles dominate the points in the paint 44-24. The sophomore, playing in his hometown of Milwaukee, scored 15 points off the bench, going 6-for-7 from the field and making all of his shots from inside the arc. Williams also led the team in rebounding with seven boards. Faurote and Nkemnji gave the Eagles four players in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, with Faurote dishing out a team-high four assists. The Eagles shot 72.5 percent on their two-point attempts in the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran College had three players in double figures led by Alex Merbach's 15-point effort. Russell Strutz put up 14 points, while Eric Reed added 10. Merbach was the Warriors leading rebounder with seven boards.
With the chance to start a new winning streak in hand, Edgewood College will return home for a Saturday afternoon tilt with Rockford College. The Eagles and Regents will tipoff at 4:15 p.m. from the Todd Wehr Edgedome. The game can be seen live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Lately, the Edgewood College men's basketball team hasn't shot as well as they usually do, in dropping three of their last four games, but something about Wisconsin Lutheran College's Recreation Complex must have felt right to the Eagles. Edgewood College shot 81.8 percent in the first half and cruised to an 82-66 victory over the Warriors on Wednesday night. For the game, Edgewood College shot 66 percent from the field, marking the fourth highest single game shooting percentage in school history.
Wisconsin Lutheran College (2-12, 1-5 NAC) defied their record early on and grabbed an early 5-0 lead against the Eagles. Edgewood College answered by hitting seven of their first eight shots, but weren't able to wrest the lead from the Warriors. Cashton Craig and Michael Janusek hit three-point baskets and Kent Faurote had back-to-back layups during that stretch, but after another inside bucket by Justin Williams, the Eagles and Warriors were still tied at 16.
Derek Nkemnji converted a three-point play, but a bucket from Wisconsin Lutheran's Kyle Stelse gave the Warriors a 24-19 lead with a little more than nine minutes to go before halftime. However, Craig would launch the Eagles on a stunning 23-5 run to end the first half. The Eagles made 11 of their last 12 shots of the half with Craig doing most of the damage. The junior from Madison scored 11 straight points for the Eagles to turn a three-point deficit into a six-point lead at 32-26. Williams scored back-to-back layups to push the lead to 10, before Nkemnji and Faurote assisted each other on back-to-back possessions. Two free throws by Williams in the final minute gave Edgewood College (11-3, 5-1 NAC) a 42-29 halftime lead.
The Warriors got back to within nine points at 47-38 early in the second half, but a slam dunk from Williams and another three-pointer from Craig pushed the lead back to 55-38 and put the Eagles in cruise control for the remainder of the game. The Eagles largest lead of the game came at 65-44 on a Ben Wisniewski free throw with seven and a half minutes left to play.
Craig and Williams were the stars of the night for the Eagles. Craig went 8-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-4 at the three-point line and matched a season-high with 19 points. Williams helped the Eagles dominate the points in the paint 44-24. The sophomore, playing in his hometown of Milwaukee, scored 15 points off the bench, going 6-for-7 from the field and making all of his shots from inside the arc. Williams also led the team in rebounding with seven boards. Faurote and Nkemnji gave the Eagles four players in double figures with 12 and 10 points, respectively, with Faurote dishing out a team-high four assists. The Eagles shot 72.5 percent on their two-point attempts in the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran College had three players in double figures led by Alex Merbach's 15-point effort. Russell Strutz put up 14 points, while Eric Reed added 10. Merbach was the Warriors leading rebounder with seven boards.
With the chance to start a new winning streak in hand, Edgewood College will return home for a Saturday afternoon tilt with Rockford College. The Eagles and Regents will tipoff at 4:15 p.m. from the Todd Wehr Edgedome. The game can be seen live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.