MILWAUKEE – The Edgewood College Men's Basketball team made a strong comeback late in the second half Friday night against MSOE, but ultimately it was not enough as the Raiders escaped with the win in the first game of a two-game series. MSOE knocked down its free throws down the stretch to secure an 81-73 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Eagles (6-4, 3-2 NACC) trailed 59-44 with 12-plus minutes left in the game before they made a good run at the Raiders late. The Eagles got as close as two points after Matthew Myers made a free throw off of a Raiders technical foul to make the score 73-71 with just north of two minutes remaining.

- MSOE responded with a basket through contact by Michael Pitrof on the next possession and Pitrof went on to make the free throw to give the Raiders a five-point lead. Edgewood College would get no closer than that the remainder of the way with MSOE securing the eight-point win.

- Jake Negus was outstanding on Friday night for the Eagles, scoring a game-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Negus went 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Jake Schroeckenthaler added 19 points and eight rebounds for Edgewood College, while Jake Graf chipped in with 10 points.

- The Eagles shot it well from 3-point range, making 7-of-15 (46.7 percent), but made just 39.3 percent of its field goals (24-for-61) in the game. Meanwhile, MSOE shot 51.7 percent (30-for-58) from the floor in gaining the win.

- The Raiders never trailed on Friday, racing out to a 7-0 lead. MSOE led by as many as 14 points in the opening half and took an eight-point lead into the break.  

THE OPPOSITION
- Three MSOE starters scored in double figures, led by Pitrof's 21 points. Josh Herzog added 17 points and Ty Miklowski scored 13.

UP NEXT
- The Eagles and Raiders will play again inside Hotchkins Arena tomorrow night at 7 p.m.