Box Score

ST. PAUL -- The Northwestern College men's basketball team started its season at 2-0 after hanging on to beat North Central University 72-66 in the first round of the 15th Annual NWC Tip-Off Tournament. Four Eagles scored in double digits as a packed Ericksen Center crowd cheered both teams on.

NWC led early in the game, racing out to a 7-0 lead before North Central came back to take the lead 10-9 on a pair of free throws by Nathan Roeder. After the Rams' advantage crept up to four points, back-to-back jumpers by Ellis Libby (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) gave the Eagles a one-point lead halfway through the first half. The game continued to go back and forth in the early goings, as fans experienced four ties and seven lead changes before Roeder's three-point basket gave North Central a 33-31 halftime advantage.

Northwestern came back early in the second period to take command of the score, although it wasn't an overpowering command with the lead hanging between four and eight points. After Tom Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) made both of his free throw attempts, a layup by Wade Chitwood (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) gave the Eagles an 11-point advantage at 65-54 with 6:02 to play. North Central cut the lead to two after Andrew Berndt drained a three-pointer, but Chitwood and Nate Thompson (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) (Fergus Falls, Minn./Hillcrest Lutheran Academy) didn't miss at the charity stripe, and Northwestern earned its second victory of the early season and a berth in Saturday's tournament championship game.

For the second time in as many games, the Eagles were out-rebounded, but committed less mistakes than their opponents with a 17-to-12 assist-to-turnover mark.

As a team, NWC shot just over 40 percent while North Central was right behind at 39 percent. The Eagles owned a slim 34-30 advantage in points in the paint, while the Rams held an 18-10 upper hand in second chance points. Gisler was Northwestern's leading man on the night, making half of his 12 attempts for a team-best 18 points to go with seven rebounds. Gabe Jefferson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) followed with a 10-point, 10-rebound performance to notch the double-double while Thompson and Chitwood chimed in with 11 points apiece.

Brian Lecheler (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) (Abbotsford, Wis./Abbotsford) scored eight points and grabbed five boards while dealing out four assists before fouling out late in the game. Reep and Thompson each had three assists to their name on the day while three of Josh Williams (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake)' (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) four rebounds came while the Eagles were on offense.

Roeder gave the fits all night as the freshman showcased his ability to score from both the perimeter and in the paint. The freshman finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Bryce Burkman followed Roeder's lead with 15 points.

Northwestern will play in Saturday's 7 p.m. championship game against the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, who also boasts a 2-0 record after claiming a 90-69 victory over Simpson College on Friday afternoon. The Eagles will have their hands full against the bigger Falcons, especially without having big man Robbie Anderstrom (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) in the lineup to go with an already thin post presence.