Box Score

MANKATO, Minn. -- With 20 seconds remaining in the second half, the game tied and possession of the ball, the Northwestern College men's basketball team had an opportunity to end Bethany Lutheran College's undefeated UMAC record. Unfortunately for the visitors on the scoreboard, the Eagles didn't get a shot off before the buzzer sounded, and the Vikings remained unscathed with an 80-73 overtime victory.

Saturday's game was tight from the get-go as neither team was able to gain more than a five-point advantage throughout the first half. Derek Peterson's three-pointer gave Bethany a two-point lead three minutes into the game, but NWC answered with consecutive jumpers from Ethan Benton (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar) and Wade Chitwood (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) to give the Eagles the same advantage. A shot by Jacob Wensmann put the home team up 15-10 at the 11:34 mark of the first half, but 10 minutes later, Tom Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville)'s trey put the Eagles up 29-24. Gabe Jefferson (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southeast) sank a shot at the end of the half, sending the teams into their respective locker rooms with the score knotted at 31-31.

The Eagles took their largest lead of the game at the start of the second half. Chitwood hit back-to-back shots before Ellis Libby (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) drained a pair of free throws to put NWC up by seven. Not three minutes later, Bethany had tied the game on Gavin Kroehler's free throw. Those fans that entered the game with long finger nails left with nothing left on their fingers as the game experienced four ties in the final three minutes. Benton hit a shot from the elbow only for Kroehler to answer with a jumper of his own. Chitwood then drained a three from the top of the key with 1:07 on the clock, but a Patrick Garvin shot from downtown extended the Vikings' life, which extended into overtime.

Bethany made the first two baskets of the extra period, but Northwestern tied the game on Lance Westberg (River Falls, Wis./River Falls)'s three-pointer. Westberg's make was the Eagles' final score of the night, as NWC missed its next three baskets while the Vikings did enough at the free throw line to win by seven.

The post-game statistics were nearly identical between the two teams. Northwestern actually shot better at 47 percent, while Bethany was close behind at 44 percent. Just one rebound separated the two teams, as did one turnover, after 45 minutes. Chitwood finished 9-15 for 20 points to lead the Eagles, while Benton followed with a 14-point, seven-rebound performance. Jefferson wrapped up the weekend with a double-double, scoring 11 points to go with 10 boards.

Kroehler put up 28 points for Bethany (9-9, 7-0 UMAC), scoring 10 of his 20 attempts from the floor. Derek Peterson finished 6-9 for the Vikings, including a 3-3 performance from behind the three-point line, to end his night with 18 points.

Northwestern, now 9-9 overall and 4-3 in conference play, knows how important its next seven games are as the Eagles currently rank third in the UMAC standings with three teams just one game behind. Having played the last two weekends on the road, NWC will return to the Ericksen Center for a three-game week that starts on Tuesday against Crown College. The Eagles and Storm will tip off at approximately 7:30 p.m.