MADISON, Wis. – The Edgewood College men's basketball team held a 14-point second half lead, but were undone by Concordia University Chicago's full court trap in an 84-79 loss on Saturday. The Eagles shot 49.2 percent from the field, but couldn't overcome 24 turnovers in their last NACC game before the new year.
Edgewood College (1-7, 1-5 NACC) led for almost 27 minutes in the game. Tied 27-27 in the first half, the Eagles posted a 20-8 run to take a 41-29 lead with four minutes left before halftime. The run was capped by three straight baskets for Trevon Ampe, who came off the bench to score a career-high 21 points, and a three-pointer by Adam Freitag. The Eagles would lead by as many as 13 points after a three-pointer by Dylan Heemstra and took a 46-37 lead into the break. Edgewood College hit 51.7 percent from the field in the first half.
In the second half a jumper by Arik Anderson gave the Eagles a 61-47 lead with 12 minutes to go, but Concordia Chicago (3-3, 3-2 NACC) started to reel in the Eagles. The Cougars three-quarter court trap began to pay off as the Cougars forced 12 turnovers in the final 12 minutes of the game. Kylan Anderson, the nation's leading scorer, hit a three-pointer to put the Cougars ahead and Justin Saar followed with a three-point play to complete an 18-2 run and a 77-73 lead with 3:44 left to play.
Ampe score a pair of baskets to tie the game at 77-77 and again at 79-79 with 1:42 to go, but Mike Walmer scored a fast break layup for the Cougars and then converted a free throw after an Eagle turnover. Edgewood College missed twice on the other end and Walmer sealed the game with two more free throws with 12 seconds to play.
Ampe went 10-for-14 from the field in besting his previous career-high of 16 points set two weeks ago, also against Concordia University Chicago. He also nine rebounds to lead the Eagles. Emilio Lopez set a new season-high with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting and was the only other Eagles in double figures. Spencer Barnes and Adam Freitag each scored nine points, while Freitag and Heemstra shared team-high assists honors with five assists apiece.
Anderson scored 23 points, but that was nine points off his season average of 32 points per game. He also had a game-high 10 rebounds. Walmer made seven of eight free throws and finished with 17 points, while Kris Clayton came off the bench to chip in 10 points.
Edgewood College enters a difficult non-conference stretch with games against 19th-ranked UW-Stevens Point on Tuesday at the Edgedome and then undefeated Carroll University and the nation's number one ranked team Augustana College (Ill.) a the Just a Game Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells after Christmas.
