Box Score
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. - The Edgewood College men's basketball team piled up 50 points in the first half and never looked back, downing Lakeland College 87-61 in an NAC North Division battle on Tuesday night. Reigning NAC Athlete of the Week Ben Wisniewski remained red hot once again scoring 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting, including four three-pointers.
Despite the Eagles' impressive first half totals, the game opened slowly. The two teams struggled to an 8-7 Muskie lead to start the game, before Kent Faurote scored a layup and senior Jon Ciche tallied six straight points, finishing with a dunk following a Jeff Barczak steal. Lakeland College answered with four quick points before the Eagles began to take control. The Eagles made 11 of their last 16 field goal attempts and all 11 free throws attempts of the half to turn a modest 15-12 lead into a 50-29 bulge. Edgewood College (11-9, 9-3 NAC) shot 53.1 percent (17-for-32) in the first half, including a 5-for-12 effort from the three-point line.
Lakeland College trimmed the lead early in the second half, but a decisive 22-5 run capped by a Brock Bidlingmaier three-point basket, gave the Eagles a 74-41 lead with 11:44 remaining and all but ended the Muskies' hopes of a comeback. The Eagles ended the game shooting 48.4 percent which would have been even higher, had the Eagles not missed seven of their final eight shots of the game.
Wisniewski remained in the zone for another game shooting 70 percent from the field and 4-for-6 from the three point line, for his third straight game scoring at least 20 points. Over his past five games, Wisniewski is shooting 66 percent from the field, including 54.2 percent at the three-point line.
Ciche narrowly missed a double-double with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting and nine rebounds. Faurote scored 11 points for his 10th straight game in double figures. Derek Nkemnji came off the bench for 11 points of his own and a team-high three assists.
Lakeland College (10-10, 4-8 NAC) was led by Anthony Cobb who scored 14 points on 7-for-10 shooting before fouling out. Jake Schwarz added 12 points. The Eagles held the Muskies to just 36.8 percent shooting from the field and just 4-for-16 from the three-point line.
Edgewood College will return home as winners in five of their last six games. They will face Concordia University Chicago on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. following the Eagle women's game.
