MADISON, Wis. – Perhaps a return to their home court was just what the Edgewood College men's basketball team needed. The Eagles executed well on both ends of the floor and turned in a workman-like 89-76 victory over Concordia University Chicago to improve to 3-2 in the NACC. Dylan Rusch led all scorers with 24 points, while Tal Diekvoss hit five three-pointers, all in the second half.
The Eagles and Cougars traded the lead three times in a quick moving first half. Rusch drilled the Eagles only three-pointer of the first half to give his team a 15-13 lead with 12 minutes to play before halftime. Behind Kylan Anderson, Concordia University Chicago (2-4, 0-3 NACC) tied the Eagles at 19-19, but that would be the last time the Cougars would threaten to take the lead in the game.
Derek Braucht and Joe Klocek scored on back-to-back possessions to put Edgewood College (3-5, 3-2 NACC) ahead and spark a 14-5 run to end the half. Jake Heuer and Klocek each had two baskets in that stretch and Rusch finished the half by beating the buzzer for a 33-24 Eagles lead. While Edgewood College shot just 1-for-10 from the three-point line, they made 14 of 19 shots inside the arc.
The Eagles needn't have worried about their three-point shooting as it arrived emphatically in the second half. Rusch and Diekvoss hit a pair of threes, surrounding a Dylan Heemstra floater from the left baseline and the Eagles had built a 43-32 lead. Later another three by Diekvoss and a layup by Trevon Ampe gave Edgewood College their largest lead of the game at 53-36 with 13:46 to go.
However, when the Eagles went into a scoring lull, Concordia Chicago took advantage. Adam Giger hit a three-point basket and Kostas Doxakis scored two free throws and a three-pointer in a 15-4 Cougar run to cut the Eagles margin to six points at 63-57.
But down the stretch the Eagles put the ball in the hands of Rusch who made the Cougars pay for fouling. Rusch went to the free throw line 16 times, all in the second half and made 14 free throws to seal the game.
Rusch finished with a game-high 24 points and dished out three assists. Diekvoss had 18 points, all of which came after halftime, and shared team-high rebound honors with Heemstra and Heuer with five apiece. Heuer also had a team-high four assists. Trevor Neale scored 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, while Klocek chipped in 10 points. The Eagles shot a season-high 58 percent, including a scorching 66.7 percent in the second half.
Anderson was a handful all day for the Eagles. He finished with 23 points on 9-for-17 shooting. Mike Walmer scored 13 points, while Doxakis added 10 points. The Cougars shot 45.3 percent from the field for the game.
Edgewood College will have a full week off to prepare for defending NACC champion and preseason favorite Aurora University. The Eagles and Spartans will tangle next Saturday, December 13 at Thornton Gymnasium in Aurora, Ill.
