News Release

MANKATO, Minn. — The Northwestern College men’s basketball team recorded their fourth straight victory with a 73-67 edging over Bethany Lutheran College on Saturday night. With the win, the Eagles improved their overall record on the year to 11-2, while remaining undefeated at 2-0 in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action. The host Vikings of Bethany Lutheran fell to 4-9 overall and 1-1 in league play with the loss. Northwestern is 3-1 all-time against Bethany Lutheran and has prevailed in their last 3 head-to-head battles.

The Eagles slowly built a 10-point advantage at 17-7 with 13:32 remaining in the first half. Northwestern led by as many as 11 points in the opening frame but Bethany Lutheran strung together a 22-11 run in the final 7 minutes of the half to make the halftime score an even tie at 34 points each. Both teams found their shooting touch early as Northwestern made 14-of-28 (50.0%) from the floor, while Bethany Lutheran connected on 11-of-24 (45.8%) from the field and 6-of-10 (60.0%) from three-point range.

Northwestern started the second half owning a 15-8 run as they led 49-42 with just over 14 minutes remaining in the affair. The Vikings were able to cut their deficit to 3 points at 49-46 midway through the second half, but that would prove to be the closest they would come as the Eagles owned the upper-hand and led by as many as 11 points in the second half before wrapping up the 73-67 victory.

A night after shooting 56.0% from the floor at Martin Luther College, the Eagles set a new season-high for field goal percentage and three-point field goal shooting in a game, connecting on 27-of-48 (56.3%) from the floor and 10-of-15 (66.7%) from behind the arc. For the year, Northwestern is shooting an impressive 48.8% as a team.

Eagle senior Joseph Sir (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood HS) poured in 18 second-half points and finished with a team and season-high 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from behind the arc. The 25-point scoring outburst represents the third highest single-game scoring performance of his career.

Sophomore forward Mike Anderstrom (Mendota Heights, Minn./New Life Academy) was the only other Northwestern player to reach double-figures for scoring, adding 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting along with 6 rebounds. In his first collegiate start, freshman Steve Discher (Andover, Minn.) contributed 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Bethany Lutheran College stand-out Dewan Grant paced the Vikings, accounting for 28 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Grant made 10-of-18 from the floor and 5-of-9 from three-point land. Alfonso Mayfield joined him in double-figures for scoring with 13 points.

Northwestern College will continue Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action with a two-game home stand facing Presentation College on Friday, January 13th, at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles will then clash with the University of Minnesota-Morris on Saturday, January 14th, at 5 p.m.