ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Despite a 22-point second half performance from Trent Hilbrands (Sr., Remsen, Iowa/Le Mars Community), the (RV) Northwestern College men's basketball team (8-3, 1-2 GPAC) fell in a tightly contested Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) contest the Chargers of Briar Cliff (5-5, 3-1 GPAC) 61-59 Wednesday evening inside the Bultman Center.
 
Briar Cliff jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first thanks to back-to-back 3-point baskets, but the Raiders would collect themselves and find a way to cut the lead to 12-11, forcing a Briar Cliff time out. Northwestern would take their first lead of the contest with 10 minutes remaining in the half at 13-12, erasing the fast start for the Chargers. The two teams would go back and forth the rest of the half, but Briar Cliff was able to build their lead late again. Northwestern would trail by seven at the break, 31-24. Conner Geddes (Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Harrisburg) led the Raiders with seven first half points.
 
The second half would be led by 3-pointers as Briar Cliff's Quinn Vesey went 0-3 in the first half, but knocked down all three attempts in the second half to propel the Chargers late in the contest. Hilbrands erupted for 22 points in the second half to put the team on his back and erase the seven-point halftime deficit.
 
Down the stretch, it came down to free throws as the Chargers were able to convert but the Raiders went 5-11 from the strike. Down two with under a minute remaining, Geddes would attempt to give the Raiders the lead from the top of the key but couldn't convert. Northwestern would track down the rebound and head coach Kris Korver would call a time out to talk things over with 8.4 remaining. Alex Van Kalsbeek (So., Orange City, Iowa/MOC-Floyd Valley) would get the final chance to send the game to overtime, but his shot rimmed out and Briar Cliff would walk away with the 61-59 win.

Hilbrands led all scorers with 26 points in the contest. Van Kalsbeek picked up his fourth double-double of the season, scoring 11 points and picking up 12 rebounds. Matt Onken (R-So., Marshall, Minn./Marshall) also recorded 12 rebounds for the Raiders in the effort. All five Raider starters dished out three assists a piece.

Up Next: Northwestern hits the road again this Saturday, December 4 as they travel to Seward, Neb. to square off with the Bulldogs of Concordia at 3:45 p.m.