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Game Reaction: Tom Gisler

ST. PAUL -- Northwestern College won its 2011 home-opener in convincing fashion on Friday night as the Eagles defeated North Central University 99-68 in the ACR Homes Tip-Off Tournament.  NWC had a big first half that included 66 points and a 66-percent shooting rate.

Despite the big first half for Northwestern, North Central kept the home team in check for the first seven minutes, as evidenced by the Eagles' slim 15-13 lead at the 13:07 mark.  But the Purple and Gold just exploded then, scoring 15 straight points over the next five minutes to boost their margin to 17 with 8:08 to play in the period.  Much of NWC's first half offense came from Kory Kiekoefer, who hosted his own coming out party in the Ericksen Center with eight points during the run, which is five more points than he scored throughout the entire 2010-11 season.

After North Central put a small dent in NWC's lead with a pair of free throws, Tom Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) answered right back with a three-pointer, one of four on the night for the junior.  By the 6:50 mark, Northwestern had extended its lead to 20 before Kiekoefer hit a jumper with two seconds left in the period to send the Eagles into the locker room with a bruising 62-32 advantage.

While Northwestern's pace slowed down a bit in the second half, the margin didn't change much.  North Central knew it had to respond in some fashion, so the Rams cut the Eagles' lead to 21 at the 10:08 point of the second half, but the Rams wouldn't get any closer.  Wade Chitwood (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) scored four straight points to get NWC back on track, and Tim Grosz's freshman and sophomore classes were on the court not too much later.

NWC finished the game with a 61.4 percent field goal percentage, making 35 of its 57 baskets. Northwestern added a nine-for-21 mark from behind the three-point arc while out-rebounding one of their local rivals 44-38.  Grosz's squad posted better than a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio at 31-to-15.

Five different Northwestern players scored in double figures. Kiekoefer and Gisler each had 18 to lead the team. The sophomore was a perfect 4-4 from the field and 10-10 at the charity stripe while adding eight rebounds to his best game resume to date in an Eagles uniform.  Although not as perfect as his teammate, Gisler finished 7-10 from the field and 3-4 from downtown to go with six boards.  Gabe Jefferson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) was one rebound shy of a double-double at 12 points and nine boards while Lance Westberg (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) and Chitwood each chipped in 11 points. Aaron Reep's effort at the point guard position didn't go unnoticed as the senior had 10 assists to go with six points and six rebounds.

Nathan Roeder had 19 points for North Central, who was held to 21-59 (35.6 percent) shooting for the night.

Now 1-1 overall in 2011, Northwestern will get a quick rest in before returning to the court on Saturday night to face Nebraska Wesleyan University in the tournament's championship game. The Eagles and Prairie Wolves will tip off at approximately 7 p.m. in the Ericksen Center.