ASHLAND, Wis. – The University of Northwestern men's basketball team opened its Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) schedule with a 73-68 win over host Northland College Friday night. The victory improves UNW's season record to 6-1.

Trailing by one at the break, the Eagles outscored the Lumberjacks 43-37 in the final 20 minutes of play to take the league opener. Northland led by as many as 11 in the first half, but UNW clawed its way back to cut the halftime lead to just one. Northwestern got a strong first half from Will Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville), who scored 13 points in the opening frame, including cashing in on a trio of threes.

Gisler led three Eagles in double figures, as the junior poured in a game-high 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to secure his first double-double of the year. Cody Sprenger (Grey Eagle, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, while Kyle Ooms (Hollandale, MN/Albert Lea High School) scored 14 points and grabbed seven boards. Sprenger finished 3-of-3 from downtown.

The Eagles will now head to Hancock, Mich., for a contest with Finlandia University on Saturday. Tip is slated for 3 p.m. (CST).