Late Game Push Not Enough for Raiders in NAIA First Round

Onken records double-double, Carlson scores 23

Box Score LANGSTON, Okla. – A valiant second-half effort was not enough for Northwestern (20-10, 13-7 GPAC) as they fell to Southwestern (Kan.) (26-6, 16-6 KCAC) in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) First Round, hosted in the C.F. Gayles Field House on the campus of Langston University.

*Please note that stats were incomplete at the time of this recap. An official box score will be posted to this recap and to the men's basketball schedule page once it becomes available.

Southwestern started ahead as a pair of free throws sent the Moundbuilders up 6-3 just a couple minutes into the contest. The Raiders battled back ahead with a 7-1 run capped off by a dunk from Craig Sterk (Jr., McBain, Mich) to put Northwestern up 10-7 at the 15:43 mark. Despite the Raiders holding a slight advantage past the 15-minute mark, Southwestern went back ahead on a Jarvis Jennings three, giving them a one-point lead.

Although the Raiders trailed by as many as nine points in the opening 20 minutes, they never led the deficit get to double-digits, responding to a Southwestern triple late in the half with the last two field goals of the half, one a Zach LaFave (Jr., Elkhorn, Neb.) put back slam and the other a jumper late in the half from Grant DeMeulenaere (Sr., Altoona, Iowa) to make the score 36-29 at halftime in favor of the Moundbuilders.

With a deficit between 5-8 points through the first eight minutes of the second half, Northwestern went on a 7-0 run to come within a point on a pair of free throws by Dillon Carlson (Sr., Ankeny, Iowa). The two teams then went on to trade baskets near the 10-minute mark before Southwestern again stretched their lead to five points with 6:49 remaining.

The Raiders took their first lead with six minutes on the clock, as Sterk muscled home a tough layup to put his team up 70-69. Northwestern's lead went up to as many as five points on Sterk's free throws with 3:48 left, but the Moundbuilders took the lead back on a three-pointer from Trey Abasolo and never looked back. Southwestern iced the game with free throws despite multiple late-game makes from the Raiders, moving on to the Round of 32 with an 87-82 win.

GAME NOTES

Matt Onken was a crucial part of the Raiders' comeback effort, posting 17 rebounds and 13 rebounds.
Dillon Carlson led Northwestern in scoring with 23 points.
Craig Sterk also recorded 21 points with six boards.

Up Next: The Northwestern men's basketball season comes to a close, as the Raiders finish 20-10 overall.

Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut

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Players Mentioned

#34 Matt Onken: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#14 Grant DeMeulenaere: G; 6' 1"; Senior

#13 Dillon Carlson: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#24 Craig Sterk: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#30 Zach LaFave: F; 6' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#34 Matt Onken
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#14 Grant DeMeulenaere
: 6' 1"; Senior
: G

#13 Dillon Carlson
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#24 Craig Sterk
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#30 Zach LaFave
: 6' 5"; Junior
: F