Raiders Rally to Win on Wednesday

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Concordia Wisconsin men's basketball team couldn't survive a second-half surge from the Raiders on the road on Wednesday night. MSOE defended its home court on the night with an 88-75 victory. The loss sends Concordia Wisconsin to 9-13 on the year and 8-7 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference. The victory helps propel the Raiders to 10-12 and 7-8 in the ever-tightening NACC standings.

The Raiders jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after baskets on their first two baskets.

The Falcons claimed the lead for the first time with an 8-7 lead after senior Freeman Jackson (Green Bay, Wis.) scored five of the first eight points for Concordia.

A three-point basket for MSOE gave the Raiders the lead at 14-13 with 15:18, but that was the last time the Raiders could hold the lead the rest of the first half.

With the game tied at 26, CUW went on a 7-0 run to force an MSOE timeout. Freeman Jackson had four of the points in the run with senior Zech Hans (Hartland, Wis.) also sinking a three-point basket.

Freeman Jackson scored seven-straight points before the Raiders beat the buzzer with a final shot to give the Falcons a 40-34 lead at halftime.

The Raiders jumped out of the gates scorching hot with a 17-6 run in the first five minutes of the second half to elevate the lead to 51-46.

The Falcons fought back and reclaimed the lead at 56-55 with 11:12 left on a layup from Jack Fritz off an assist from senior Samuel Meerstein (Green Bay, Wis.).

Back-to-back three-point baskets for MSOE broke the tie at 57 and the Raiders never looked back.  

Freeman Jackson led the game with 28 points and led the Falcons with five rebounds in the loss.

Senior Gabe Pruss (North Fond du Lac, Wis.) finished with four blocks and Samuel Meerstein had five assists to lead the way.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday at Lakeland.