Box Score MADISON, Wis. – They scored more field goals, hit 10 three-pointers and had more rebounds, but the Edgewood College men's basketball team still fell on the short end of 75-74 decision to Concordia University Wisconsin on Thursday at the Edgedome. The Eagles let an eight-point second half lead slip away as the Falcons scored outscored Edgewood College 20-4 at the free throw line.
Edgewood College (9-11, 7-8 NACC) trailed by as many as nine points at 20-11 midway through the first half, before a 9-1 run cut the Falcons' lead to one point. Tal Diekvoss hit a key three-pointer and Joe Klocek capped the run with a jumper in the paint. Concordia Wisconsin (10-11, 8-8 NACC) still led 35-31 after a pair of Brian Boettcher free throws, but another Diekvoss three-pointer, a layup from Dylan Heemstra and a triple from Dylan Rusch with five seconds remaining gave the Eagles a 39-35 halftime lead.
Rusch and Heemstra teamed up again for the first seven Edgewood College points of the second half and the Eagles boasted their biggest lead of the night at 46-38 just a little over two minutes past halftime. However, the Eagles scored just one field goal, a Matt Savatski three-pointer, over the next 5:30 and the Falcons turned it to their advantage in the form of a 15-3 run and a 53-49 Falcon lead.
The Falcons would hold the lead the rest of the game, although Savatski tied it at 64-64 with a runner down the lane with 4:23 left to play. Ultimately, the wave of free throws for the Falcons became too much to overcome. Concordia Wisconsin needed just four made field goals in the final 10 minutes to hold their lead, as they made nine of 14 free throws in that same span to keep the Eagles at arm's length. CUW's Mark Scholz put the final nail in the coffin with two free throws with three seconds to play, which gave the Falcons a 75-71 lead, making Savatski's 30-foot buzzer beater irrelevant to the final outcome.
Rusch led all scorers in the game with 20 points, including three three-pointers. Savatski was the only other Eagle in double figures with 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night. Justin Williams and Diekvoss each had nine points, while Joe Klocek chipped eight points and a game-high eight rebounds. Trevor Neale had a strong all-around game with eight points, seven rebounds, a team-high five assists and four blocked shots. The Eagles made 10 three-pointers in a game for the second time in three contests.
Concordia University Wisconsin received 17 points each from Boettcher and Scholz. Boettcher nearly did it all for the Falcons with seven rebounds and five assists. CUW was 20-for-30 at the free throw line on the night, while the Eagles were just 4-for-5.
The Eagles host Rockford University on Saturday for the annual Jam the Gym celebration. This year's Jam the Gym features the UniteToFight fundraiser. Fans are encouraged to purchase a UniteToFight T-shirt or simply wear black to show their support of those affected by cancer. All T-shirt sales, plus an anonymous donation of $3 for every #UniteToFight shirt in attendance, will go to the American Cancer Society.
