Warriors Sneak Past Falcons

MEQUON, Wis. – Saturday saw the CUW men's basketball team fall to 9-12 on the season and 8-6 in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play as the 17-4 Warriors of Wisconsin Lutheran College defeated the Falcons with a final score of 69-79.

The Warriors jumped out to a quick lead in the first half, holding a margin of 12 points at the half's midway point. 

But eight straight points from senior Freeman Jackson (Green Bay, Wis.) near the six-minute mark would cut the WLC lead to eight, 24-32, with 3:57 remaining in the half. 

Toward the closing moments of the half, a three-pointer from senior Zech Hans (Hartland, Wis.) on a pass from senior Gabe Pruss (North Fond du Lac, Wis.) would shrink the Warrior margin to just seven. 

At half, the score favored the Warriors 39-31. 

Out of the break, the Falcons came out firing.

Gabe Pruss scored the first bucket of the half, then in the following defensive possession, Freeman Jackson recorded a block and went coast-to-coast for the easy transition layup. On the next defensive possession, the Falcons forced a missed, and Freeman Jackson, on an assist from Pruss, scored on the fast break to cut the WLC lead to two. 

Eventually, following a Freeman Jackson layup, the Falcons leveled the score at 41 apiece. 

WLC, however, would retake the lead, but immediately after, in back-to-back possessions, Gabe Pruss threw down a pair of vicious two-handed slams to tie the game once again at 47-47 with 13:52 left in the contest. 

After a short Warriors run, freshman Mekhi Sutton (San Diego, Calif.) would come off the bench and make an immediate impact, scoring a layup on a pass from Zech Hans. 

Later, Samuel Meertstein (Green Bay, Wis.) found junior Jonah Jurss (Sheboygan, Wis.) open in the corner on a drift pass to put CUW within five of WLC at 52-57, with 9:58 remaining. 

However, Wisconsin Lutheran would mount a response and extend their lead to nine. 

The latter part of the half would follow a similar trend, as CUW would make multiple runs before WLC would reestablish their margin.  

Ultimately, the contest would see WLC secure the tight victory, 69-79. 

In the effort, Freeman Jackson and Gabe Pruss both tallied a game-high 22 points. 

For the fourth time this year, Gabe Pruss had double-digits in the rebounding category, as he hauled in 11, completing his 10th career double-double, putting him tied for seventh all-time in CUW men's basketball program history. 

Pruss also got it done defensively, recording three blocks for the sixth time this season. Zech Hans also had a career-high two blocks. 

As a team, the Falcons shot 90.9 percent from the free-throw line, going 10 of 11. 

The Blue and White will look to return to the win column next Wednesday when they make the short trip to MSOE to take on the Raiders, with tip-off slated for 7 p.m.