Keller shines in close victory

MEQUON, Wis. -- Brandon Keller scored a career-high 27 points and made numerous highlight-reel plays to help Concordia Wisconsin to a close 81-77 victory over Aurora on Wednesday night inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 81, Aurora 77
Location: R. John Buuck Field House (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 2-3, 2-1 NACC; Aurora 2-4, 1-1 NACC

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Keller (sophomore, Plymouth, Wis.) was highly efficient all game long, shooting 13-of-16 from the field, but his time to shine came in the first four minutes of the second half. The big man scored 10 points during a three minute and 33-second span to push the Falcons out a 12-point lead at the time.
- The game had two storylines, with Concordia Wisconsin pounding the ball inside for 48 points in the paint and Aurora draining 15 deep 3-pointers. What resulted was a one-point game with 42 seconds to play in favor of the home team. After a timeout, sophomore Jared Jurss (Sheboygan, Wis.) found junior Joey Zietlow (Oak Creek, Wis.) on the right-wing for a 3-point attempt that was short, however, he followed the miss and got his own rebound. With a split-second decision to make, Zietlow went put and made a layup to put the Falcons ahead by three points with under three seconds to play.
- Junior Jordan Johnson (Cedarburg, Wis.) also had a noteworthy game with 24 points and seven rebounds. He went to the line early in the game for five free throws and made a behind the back reverse layup that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
- Senior Olalekan George (Milwaukee, Wis.) ended with 11 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a performance that included forcing a late Spartan turnover that gave the Falcons the ball back with less than a minute to play.
- Aurora was led by Will Hrubes who had 22 points, while three of his teammates were in double-figures.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The game was the first for the Falcons that was decided by single digits this season.
- Concordia Wisconsin led for nearly 36 minutes of the game and there were five lead changes and two scoring ties.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- Concordia Wisconsin hosts Edgewood on Saturday at 2 pm in the first game of a NACC doubleheader inside the R. John Buuck Field House.