Northwestern College matched its best start since the 2012-13 season with an impressive 80-65 road win over No.4 Briar Cliff  tonight at the Newman Flanagan Center. 

Northwestern, now 2-0 in the GPAC and 7-1 overall, has won seven consecutive games since losing by one at Dakota State in its season opener. Briar Cliff has lost two in a row and falls to 0-2 in conference play, 3-2 overall. 

Colton Kooima netted a game-high 27 points to lead the Red Raiders, his fifth 20+ point game of the season. Joining Kooima in double figures were Nathan Wedel (18) and Riley Francis (13) while Jordan Baker ripped down a season-best 15 rebounds. 

How It Happened...

The teams traded baskets early, until Northwestern established the game's first substantial run, outscoring Briar Cliff 10-0 to take a 16-9 lead at the 12-minute mark. Three-pointers by Colton Kooima and Christian Korver paced the NWC run while the Red Raiders held the hosts scoreless for three minutes. 

A steal and lay-up by Chris Borchers and a three-point play by Nathan Wedel put NWC in front 10 (24-14) but Briar Cliff came up with a 14-1 spurt to take the lead back 28-25 after a jumper by Shane Graves. Later, tied at 31, Northwestern scored the final 10 points and took a 41-31 lead into halftime.

Northwestern extended its lead to as much as 19 at three different times early in the second half and never let the Chargers get closer than eight over the final 20 minutes. Up nine (68-59), baskets by Francis, Kooima and free throws by Wedel put the lead back to 15 with five minutes left. 

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 48% for the game compared to 36% by the Chargers; both teams struggled from beyond the arc with NWC at 30% (8-for-27) and BCU at 25% (7/28).

After being outrebounded by six with five minutes left in the first half, Northwestern won the battle of the boards, 45-36; led by Baker with 15 and Wedel with nine

Kooima dished out five assists

Francis has recorded six 10+ games; Wedel with five 10+ games

Briar Cliff was led by Erich Erdman with 26 points, including four 3pters