No.4 Northwestern College could not overcome an incredible shooting display by Briar Cliff in its 103-77 loss Wednesday night at the Bultman Center. 

The loss drops the Red Raiders to 9-2 in the conference, 19-3 overall, and is their first home loss of the season (11-1). Briar Cliff improves to 7-4 in GPAC play, 16-6 overall.

Both Derek Buysse and Colton Kooima netted 18 points each to lead Northwestern. The Chargers were led by sophomore guard Erich Erdman who poured in a career-high 41 points, going 7-for-10 from beyond the arc. 

How It Happened...

The teams traded baskets over the first six minutes that resulted in a 14-12 Northwestern lead. Briar Cliff, however, scored the next eight points, getting back-to-back three-pointers by Jay Wolfe, to take the lead for good, 20-14. 

Northwestern stayed within contact of the visiting Chargers in the first half and trailed by just five, (39-34) after consecutive baskets by Chris Borchers over the final minute.

A basket by Justin Van Kalsbeek at the 10-minute mark of the second half brought the Red Raiders within six, 60-54.

Briar Cliff, however, put the game away with an impressive 28-7 run as the Chargers made six consecutive three-pointers and converted 10-of-11 field  goal attempts over a six-minute span. 

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 50% from the field, 35% (6/17) from the three-point line; Briar Cliff shot 58% for the game, 53% (18/34) from three-point.

Briar Cliff was an incredible 11/15 from the three-point line in the second half; 71% from the field over the final 20 minutes

Northwestern outrebounded BCU 36-25, led by Van Kalsbeek (6) and Nathan Wedel (6)

The Red Raiders committed 17 turnovers compared to seven for BCU