THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.- The University of Northwestern Men's Basketball team played their first of two games in California on Tuesday afternoon and started their trip off on the right foot. UNW squared off against California Lutheran University who was receiving votes in the D3Hoops Top 25 National Poll. The Eagles defeated the Kingsmen 85-77 to win their sixth straight game and moved to 8-3 on the season.

The Eagles appeared to adjust to the California weather nicely as they came out of the gates hot in the first half. UNW shot 50% from the field, made nine shots from behind the three point arc, and shot 50% from three point range. The Eagles' remarkable shooting numbers, paired with stingy defense, led them to a commanding 41-23 halftime lead.

However, the Kingsmen showed why they have garnered national attention this season as they came storming back into the game in the second half. A fast paced style of basketball featuring a full court press led California Lutheran back into the game. The Kingsmen pulled the deficit to within six points with four minutes remaining in the contest. The Eagles would find a way to hold on down the stretch to pull out the eight point victory.

The Eagles shot the ball well all afternoon long on their way to the road win. UNW finished shooting 51% from the field and an impressive 45% from the three point line. The Kingsmen shot 42% from the field, but struggled from the three point line shooting 27%. Despite the poor three point shooting, the home team forced 23 Eagle turnovers in order to comeback late in the contest.

The afternoon showcased some big statistical performances from the Eagles. Kyle Kaemingk (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) showed no signs of adjusting to the West Coast as he scored 17 first half points on his way to a 25 point performance. Noah Alm (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake) scored 20 points for the Eagles shooting a remarkably efficient 7-8 from the floor. Henry Fahnbulleh (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) had 13 points and 5 rebounds, and Caleb Waldeck (Newhall, Calif./Hart High) played very well in front of his hometown crowd scoring 11 points, pulling in 6 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists. Owen Boerema (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) set a new career personal best by pulling in 14 rebounds.

The UNW Men's Basketball Team will be back in action tomorrow evening as they play their final game of their California trip. The Eagles tipoff against Redlands University at 7:00pm Pacific Coast time.