Wisconsin Lutheran Scores Eighteen of Last Nineteen Points to Earn Win over UW-L

For Immediate Release: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Milwaukee, Wis. – The Wisconsin Lutheran men's basketball team finished the game on a 18-1 run and earned an 80-78 victory over UW-La Crosse Saturday night in the Recreation Complex. The Warriors improve to 1-2 on the season while the Eagles fall to 1-1.

UW-L led 77-62 with 3:55 remaining after Brandon Brown's lay-up, but the Eagles missed their last three field goal attempts and had four turnovers in the final 3:03 of the game. Wisconsin Lutheran hit six of its last seven field goal attempts, including Ben Ziesemer's three-pointer with :11 left to give the Warriors a 80-78 lead. After a UW-L timeout, Brown's jumper was missed with :01 remaining to give Wisconsin Lutheran the victory.

The Eagles trailed by as many as seven points in the first half at 31-24. UW-L cut the lead to 37-36 at halftime.

Andy Merklein gave UW-L a 44-43 lead on a layup with 16:39 remaining and the Eagles went on a 12-2 run to lead 56-45 with 12:24 left. UW-L led 75-62 with 4:46 remaining after a pair of Kurt Kincaid free throws and later led 77-62 before Wisconsin Lutheran finished the contest on its 18-1 run.

Merklein led UW-L with 16 points, going eight-of-nine from the field. He added six rebounds. Austin Scott scored 14 points while Kincaid finished with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Tony Mane added nine points for the Eagles while Brown and Jordan Rumpel each finished with eight.

UW-L shot 50.0% from the field, including 58.6% (17-of-29) in the second half. The Eagles were three-of-15 (20.0%) from three-point range and 11-of-17 (64.7%) at the line.

Danny Behm led Wisconsin Lutheran with 27 points while Sam Siemers finished with 15 points and Kyle Plath 14 points and eight rebounds. The Warriors shot 41.8% from the field, including 36.0% (nine-of-25) from three-point range. The team was 25-of-27 (92.6%) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Tuesday, November 25 hosting city-rival Viterbo University at 8 p.m. in Mitchell Hall.