Johnson scores program record 45, Falcons advance to NACC title game

MILWAUKEE -- Jordan Johnson seemingly couldn't miss on Thursday night during his program-record 45 point performance; making clutch 3-pointers, fadeaway jumpers with defenders in his face and layups after blowing by the opposition. His efforts helped propel Concordia Wisconsin to a 96-83 NACC Tournament semifinal victory over Wisconsin Lutheran.

The Falcons now host MSOE on Saturday in the NACC Tournament Championship game at 7 pm inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 96, Wisconsin Lutheran 83
Location: Recreation Complex (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 18-9, Wisconsin Lutheran 19-7

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Johnson had just 11 points at halftime before exploding for 34 points in the second half of play. During the final nine minutes and 31 seconds of the game, he took 11 field goal attempts and didn't miss, with three of those coming from long range. The junior single-handily outscored the entire Warriors team over the final 10 minutes of the game (29-22).
- His 45-point performance breaks a four-decade record set by Jeff Golsteyn in 1980.
- Concordia Wisconsin put together a much-needed scoring run late in the game, outscoring Wisconsin Lutheran 15-2 over the game's final three minutes and 22 seconds to move on to the NACC Tournament Championship.
- It was a show between Johnson and the Warriors' Andrew Bruggink (NACC's leading scorer), who scored 33 of his own points on 10-of-25 shooting (11-of-11 free throws).
- The Falcons dominated the rebounding battle 46-28 and had 18 offensive rebounds, which they converted into 29 second-chance points. In all, they scored 40 points in the paint and shot 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from behind the 3-point line.
- Sophomore Brandon Keller (Plymouth, Wis.) added a double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Joey Zietlow (Oak Creek, Wis.) scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds, while sophomore Jared Jurss (Sheboygan, Wis.) added seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jurss also set the program's all-time single-season record for assists and now has 192.
- The Falcons shot 52.3 percent in the game, compared to the Warriors 42.4 percent.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- No. 3-seeded Concordia Wisconsin hosts No. 4-seeded MSOE on Saturday at 7 pm for the NACC Tournament Championship inside the R. John Buuck Field House.