NEW ULM, Minn — The University of Northwestern men's basketball team defeated Martin Luther College Saturday afternoon with a final score of 97-71. The Eagles improved to 12-2, with a conference record of 5-1.

The Eagles reached a 21 point lead with 19 minutes remaining, but the Knights continued to fight, closing the deficit to single digits with nine. Five three pointers in the next five minutes brought the Eagles back to a 22 point lead, with a score of 91-69 with 3:52 left in the game. Northwestern achieved their largest lead with 59 seconds on the clock with a 26 point advantage.

Clay Elrod (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) led with 22 points with Cody Sprenger (Grey Eagle, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle) right behind with 21. Kyle Ooms (Hollandale, MN/Albert Lea High School) recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. UNW shot 54.5 % from the field, with an impressive 57.7 from behind the arc.

Northwestern will host the College of St. Scholastica Friday night to resume Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play. Tip off in the Ericksen Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., followed by the women's team at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will face the University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellow Jackets on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. to wrap up another conference weekend.