ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College men's basketball team struggled to find all the pieces to the puzzle, as the Eagles were defeated by Northland College in a 71-69 battle. After going into the locker room with a 38-31 lead, NWC gave up 40 second-half points to lose to a passionate Lumberjack team. 
    
Throughout the first half, the score remained even as both teams scored 25 points within the first 15 minutes of play. Nathan Thompson (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) capped off an 11-2 scoring run within the next two minutes of play, which gave the edge to Northwestern as they finished the half with a 38-31 lead. 
   
The Eagles maintained the comfortable lead they held at half through the first ten minutes of the second half, until the Lumberjacks rattled off a 12-1 scoring run, which gave Northland the lead for only the second time in the game, as they coughed it up early in the first half. The Eagles tied the game at 55-55, and the lead stayed within one point for the next seven minutes until Ryan Cannata of Northland made a clutch three-pointer, which gave the Lumberjacks a 66-62 lead with only one minute left to play. Northland completed the victory by hitting critical free throws. 
    
NWC led many categories on the night despite the loss, shooting 48 percent from the field, including 40 percent from behind the three-point line. The Eagles edged Northland in points in the paint 34-30. Yet, the Lumberjills displayed a vast array of second-chance points, beating NWC 19-13 and out-rebounding the Eagles 37-28. 
    
Stephen Hanson (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha) (Plymouth, Minn./Maranatha) led the Eagles on the night with 15 points and nine rebounds. Following Hanson, were four players, including Brian Lecheler (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford), Eric Garst (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain) (Mesa, Ariz./Red Mountain), Reid Berens (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial), and Nathan Thompson, who each tallied 11 points. 
    
Ryan Cannata stunned the crowd at the Ericksen Center by stroking 27 points on the night. Michael Mackey also added 18 points. 
    
The Eagles travel take on the University of Wisconsin-Superior on Tuesday, Dec. 9, where they look to get back on the winning track in a non-conference matchup. Tip-off time will start at 7 p.m.