Box Score
MEQUON, Wis. – The Edgewood College men's basketball did almost everything they could to beat Concordia University Wisconsin. The Eagles took care of the ball, grabbed more rebounds and shot better than the Falcons, but they did not shoot well from the free throw line. Concordia Wisconsin escaped with the 67-65 victory and the Northern Athletics Conference North Division title.
Leading by one point just three minutes into the contest, Concordia Wisconsin (14-10, 10-6 NAC) separated themselves with a quick 7-0 scoring spurt to take a 13-5 lead, their largest of the game. The Falcons regained their eight point advantage four times throughout the first half.
With the Falcons still holding an eight point lead, Ben Wisniewski single handedly brought the Eagles (12-12, 9-7 NAC) back. Over the final 4:19 of the first half, Wisniewski scored seven of the Eagles' ten points. He started with back-to-back jumpers, and then he hit a three-point basket to pull the Eagles within three points. After the Falcons made a three-point basket, Jake Guziewski nailed a three-pointer of his own with 26 seconds left to make the score 34-31 at intermission. Guziewski finished the game with six points on 2-for-2 shooting from three-point range.
Trailing 36-31 a minute into the second half, the Eagles made their move. Over the next two and a half minutes Edgewood College outscored Concordia Wisconsin 11-3 and Derek Nkemnji gave the Eagles their first lead of the contest at 40-39. From that point on, there were four ties and seven lead changes over the final 15:27.
With score tied at 54, Wisniewski drilled another three-point basket and got fouled. He completed the rare four-point play to give Edgewood College their largest lead of the game, four points, with 6:03 to play. However, the Falcons answered with three free throws after Mitchell Schneider got fouled on a three-point attempt.
Trailing 62-60 with just over two minutes to play, senior Aaron Ritschard tied the score with a layup. After a pair of Falcon free throws, the Eagles had an opportunity to tie the score with a couple free throws of their own but they only made 1-of-2 to make the score 64-63. The Falcons' Edward Newton-Kemp hit a three-point basket on the Falcons' next trip down the floor to extend their lead to four points with just 39 seconds to play.
Nkemnji hit a layup to pull the Eagles back within two points with 16 seconds left. Concordia Wisconsin then missed the front end of their one-and-one which gave the Eagles a chance to tie. Wisniewski got a look from three to win the game for the Eagles but could not convert. However, Kent Faurote grabbed the offensive board and Edgewood College called timeout with three seconds left. The Eagles threw away the ensuing inbounds pass and the Falcons escaped with the 67-65 victory.
Edgewood College shot 50 percent (26-for-52) from the field and only turned the ball over 11 times in the contest. The Eagles also outrebounded the Falcons 35-21 with 11 of their 35 rebounds coming on the offensive end. However, Edgewood College only shot 56.3 percent (9-for-16) from the free throw line. Concordia Wisconsin shot 46.2 percent (24-for-52) from the floor and 72.7 (8-for-11) from the charity stripe.
Jeff Baczak recorded his second double-double of the season with a game-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Wisniewski was the only other Eagle to reach double figures with 15 points. Schneider led four Falcon scorers in double figures with 15 points.
With the loss, and Rockford College topping Lakeland College, the Eagles finished in second place in the North Division and will host MSOE on Saturday in the NAC Challenge Game. Edgewood College will provide live video and live stats for the 6:00 p.m. tipoff. Both links can be found on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
