MILWAUKEE – The Edgewood College Men's Basketball team opened the 2020 portion of its schedule with a NACC trip to Wisconsin Lutheran College Saturday afternoon. The Eagles couldn't come away with a road NACC victory, falling 80-72.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Jake Negus returned to the Eagles (3-8, 2-4 NACC) lineup for the first time since December 14 and led the way with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Unfortunately, the Eagles were still shorthanded on Saturday, missing Ben Seefeld in the contest against the Warriors.

- Wisconsin Lutheran (8-3, 5-1 NACC) won each half by four points en route to the eight-point victory. The early stages of the first half saw the teams go back-and-forth as they were tied at 17 with 10:39 remaining in the half. The Warriors would make the first run of the game, scoring the next eight points. WLC would push its lead to a game-best 11 points (33-22) before the Eagles cut it to four (36-32) before the break.

- Most of the second half was within five points with the Eagles holding just one lead over the final 20 minutes (44-42). With 6:41 remaining, the score was 62-60 in favor of Wisconsin Lutheran, before the host Warriors posted another 8-0 run to go up 10. Still, the Eagles would get back within four over the final minutes, but Wisconsin Lutheran made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on for the eight-point win.

- Avery Lyons joined Negus in double figures by scoring 11 for the Eagles on Saturday, who shot 45.9 percent (28-for-61) as a team and 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from 3-point range. Ryan Buss and Eli Hartjes each added eight points.

THE OPPOSITION
- Alex VanCrete was one of five Warriors who finished in double figures, leading his team with 18 points. VanCrete added a game-best 11 rebounds to finish with a double-double.

- Two of the Warriors double figure scorers came off the bench in Zach Zuleger (12) and Colin Biesterfeld (10). The Warriors bench outscored the Eagles, 27-16.

UP NEXT
- Edgewood College will return home for the first time since December 14 when it welcomes Concordia University Wisconsin to the Todd Wehr Edgedome on Tuesday night. The game is set for a 7 p.m. start.