Alex Van Kalsbeek scored a game-high 22 points in leading No.23 Northwestern to a 73-57 win against Mount Marty in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Postseason Championship game played tonight at the Bultman Center. 

The Raiders claim their sixth GPAC postseason title, most among all conference teams, and improve to 6-2 in the conference title game. They improve to 23-5 and extend their win streak to 13 games. 

Down by five (32-27) late in the first half, the momentum of the game turned when Northwestern closed on a 10-2 run, scoring the final eight points of the half on three-pointers from Jay Small and Noah Slagter followed by another jumper by Small. The Raiders held Mount Marty without a field goal over the final 4:14 and held a 37-34 lead at halftime.

Northwestern continued its momentum with a 14-2 run at the start of the second half, led by Van Kalsbeek, who scored 12 of the Raiders points during the seven-plus minute stretch and put his team in front 51-36. The lead was 17 moments later after a jumper from Craig Sterk and the Lancers would not get closer than 13 points over the final 10 minutes. 

Van Kalsbeek missed only one shot attempt, going 9-for-10 from the floor and converting all four free throw attempts en route to a 22-point effort. The freshman was faced with constant double and triple teams, especially in the first half, but found the open teammate that led to a team-high seven assists. Van Kalsbeek passed Jim Woudstra and into first place for points scored by a freshman (586). 

Isaac Heyer netted 14 points and dished out five assists while Small (11 points) and Sterk (10 points) gave the Raiders four players in double figures. Grant DeMeulenaere scored nine points and played a season-high 35 minutes.

Northwestern shot 55% for the game and assisted on 21 of its 27 field goal attempts, led by Van Kalsbeek (7), Small (6) and Heyer (5). Sterk claimed team-high honors with seven rebounds. 

The lead changed hands seven times over the first four minutes of the game as both teams were clicking on offense. Mount Marty went on the first extended run, turning a one-point deficit into a 17-11 lead on five straight points from Tyrell Harper. 

Northwestern stormed back with an 11-1, getting three-pointers from Heyer, DeMeuelenaere (2) and a basket from Matt Onken to take its largest lead, 22-18. Mount Marty recovered and held a five point lead until the Raiders strong close to the half.

Elijah Pappas led the Lancers with 20 points and Jailen Billings scored 19; they were the only players to score in the second half for Mount Marty. The Lancers shot 38% for the game and were limited to 30% in the second half.

The win gives Northwestern the second automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship; pairings, dates, locations will be announced by the national office on Thursday, March 4 at 7pm via a selection show.