MADISON, Wis. – The top two teams in the Northern Athletics College Conference got together on Wednesday night inside the Todd Wehr Edgedome. And after a thrilling game, which 40 minutes wasn't enough to decide, the Edgewood College Men's Basketball team moved to the top of the league standings with a 75-64 overtime win over St. Norbert College.
EAGLES 75, ST. NORBERT 64 (F/OT)
- The game was close throughout as the first and only double-digit lead didn't come until late in the overtime session, a session dominated by the Eagles. Edgewood College (6-7, 5-1 NACC) outscored St. Norbert (10-5, 6-2 NACC) 14-3 in overtime.
Jake Schroeckenthaler scored the Eagles first five points in overtime and
Adam Baierl added five in the extra period as well.
- Early on it was the
Eli Hartjes show for Edgewood College. Hartjes had 16 of the Eagles 29 first-half points to keep his team within one point at the break. Hartjes ended up with 26 of the Eagles first 51 points, but his teammates made some big plays down the stretch to force overtime and help secure the win. Hartjes finished the night with a game-high 28 points and 14 rebounds.
- The game featured six ties, including a few down the stretch in regulation.
Caden Nelson finished through contact with 8:12 left to make the score 49-49 and the two teams were squared away again just over three minutes later after a Schroeckenthaler layup tied things at 54-54 with 4:45 left in regulation.
- St. Norbert went up 61-58 with just under two minutes left when
Adam Baierl made a huge play on both ends of the floor to even things back up. After an empty trip for Edgewood College, Baierl recorded a steal to start a fastbreak opportunity for the Eagles. The Eagles would miss the layup but
Avery Lyons got the offensive rebound and they would eventually find Baierl open in the corner for a 3-point make to tie the game at 61-61 with 1:23 left. Neither team would score down the stretch in regulation, forcing overtime.
- Schroeckenthaler and Baierl joined Hartjes in double figures with 17 and 14 points, respectively. Hartjes finished the game 10-for-10 from the foul line. He entered Wednesday ranked second nationally in free throw shooting and is now an absurd 98.1 percent (53-for-54) from the line this year.
- Nelson had a nice all-around game for the Eagles with five points, a career-best 10 rebounds, and four assists.
Dawson Hughes provided a spark off the bench with six points, going 2-for-2 from 3-point range.
- After being out-rebounded 22-16 in the first half, Edgewood College pounded the Green Knights on the glass over the final 45 minutes. The Eagles finished the game with a 50-39 advantage in rebounding, including a 34-17 edge over the second half and overtime.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- This was the first NACC meeting between the two teams as St. Norbert is playing its first season in the conference. It was also the first meeting overall since the 2001-02 season and the Eagles are now 7-9 all-time against the Green Knights.
- Edgewood College has won five-straight NACC games and sits atop the league standings with a 5-1 record. St. Norbert and Wisconsin Lutheran both sit one game back in the loss column.
UP NEXT
- The Eagles have a week off before visiting Aurora University next Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
