ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern men's basketball received double-digit scoring efforts from all five starters, as the Eagles defeated Northland College (5-13, 3-7) in front of an electric Hoops Hysteria crowd inside the Ericksen Center Saturday afternoon. Northwestern moves into a first-place tie in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) standings with its 7-2 conference mark and betters its season record to 14-3.

In an exciting first 20 minutes of play, the Eagles received nine points from Will Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) to take a 33-27 lead into the break. Northwestern then put its foot on the gas in the second half, outscoring the visitors 39-25 to secure the 20-point win.

Gisler led five players in double figures, as the junior finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Michael Carney (Ames, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) dropped in 13 points and Clay Elrod (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) added 12, while Cody Sprenger (Grey Eagle, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) and Kyle Ooms (Hollandale, MN/Albert Lea High School) contributed 10 apiece to lead the Eagles. Sprenger also dished out four helpers for UNW.

Northwestern shot 44.6 percent from the field in the game, while the Lumberjacks were held to 37.7 percent shooting in the matinee.

The Eagles will hit the road for their next three games, heading to Morris, Minn., next Friday to open the road swing. Tip-off between the Eagles and Cougars is set for 5:30 p.m.