Northwestern lost to #10 Briar Cliff 92-81 in a GPAC match-up played today between top 10 teams.

The Red Raiders have dropped two straight and is 2-2 in the GPAC, 9-2 overall. Briar Cliff stays unbeaten in conference play at 3-0, 11-1.

Nathan Wedel matched his season high with 27 points, going 11-for-14 from the field. Colton Kooima poured in 20 and both Riley Francis and Parker Mulder scored 10 points each.

How It Happened...

After Northwestern held the early lead, going up 11-8 on a jumper by Wedel, Briar Cliff surged ahead for good with a 22-9 run, behind a barrage of three-pointers to claim a 30-20 lead. The Chargers drained six of seven three-point shot during the decisive run. Briar Cliff extended its lead out to 51-42 at the half, shooting 56% from beyond the arc and 61% from the field. 

An initial push by the Red Raiders made it a seven-point game (56-49) after a basket by Steven Kragt early in the second half. Briar Cliff responded, however, with back-to-back three-pointers by Jackson Lamb and Jay Wolfe and the Chargers held a double digit lead for the rest of the game.

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 42% for the game, 26% (6-for-23) from beyond the arc; Briar Cliff blistered the nets to 55% for the game, 57% (16/28) from the three-point line.

The Red Raiders were perfect (15/15) from the free throw line; BCU 60% (12/20)

Northwestern held a narrow edge on the glass, 35-34, and had one less turnover (9-8) than Briar Cliff

Wedel and Riley Francis led Northwestern with eight rebounds each; both players, along with Mulder, dished out a team-high three assists

Wolfe and Erdman led Briar Cliff with 22 and 21 points each; Belling added 13 and both Blake Wiltgen and Lamb added 11