FOND DU LAC, Wis. – With their backs against the wall, Edgewood College dialed up exactly what they needed to stay alive in the NACC playoff hunt. The Eagles went 7-for-9 at the three-point line and answered every Marian University run in a 76-67 victory at Sadoff Gymnasium. Travis Kell scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half to lead the Eagles.
After a sluggish start to the game, Edgewood College (8-15, 8-10 NACC) put on a huge 18-0 run to take a 25-7 lead over the Sabres. Jacob Miller had five points in the run, Sy Staver hit a three-pointer, and Jake Negus finished it with a three-point play with 5:51 to go before halftime. Ben Seefeld gave the Eagles their largest lead of the game at 29-9 with a layup shortly thereafter. Marian University (11-12, 10-8 NACC) bounced back to trim the Eagles lead to 35-24 by halftime.
Marian made sure the Eagles wouldn't run away with the game, scoring the first eight points of the second half. But Kell got the Eagles rolling with three straight baskets to maintain the lead. Marian did manage to tie the game once in the second half at 47-47 after a three-pointer by Logan Hamilton.
As they did all day, the Eagles responded with a seven straight points, highlighted by a circus layup from Jake Negus as he was falling to the floor. Marian's last threat came around the five-minute mark when Tristan Van Ess cut the Eagles lead to 60-58, but Staver drilled his third three-pointer of the day to spark a 10-0 Eagles run. Staver also provided the dagger with a 26-foot three-pointer with 2:51 to play to put the Eagles ahead 70-58. The Eagles closed out the game thanks to four free throws from McClain Steffens.
Kell went 10-for-15 from the field to finish with 21 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Negus finished with 19 to match his season-high. Staver was a perfect 4-for-4 at the three-point line to finish with 12 points. He also added six assists and four steals. The Eagles shot 53.1 percent from the field and an amazing 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from the three-point line.
Edgewood College will need to win their final two games and hope for help from the teams above them to reach the NACC Tournament. The Eagles will play their final two games at home, starting with a Wednesday night contest against Concordia University Chicago.
