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Northwestern College Athletics

Northwestern College
HOME OF NORTHWESTERN RED RAIDERS ATHLETICS
HONORING CHRIST THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN ATHLETICS
Nike
mbb-recap-260314
62
College of Idaho CI 21-11, 14-6
80
Winner Northwestern NWC 28-5, 15-5
College of Idaho CI
21-11, 14-6
62
Final
80
Northwestern NWC
28-5, 15-5
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
College of Idaho CI 23 39 62
Northwestern NWC 50 30 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | NWC Athletic Communications

Northwestern Punches Ticket to Kansas City for Third Consecutive Season

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – Northwestern powered past the College of Idaho with an 80-62 victory on Saturday at the Bultman Center to move on to the Round of 16. The Raiders were on fire, shooting an impressive 61.2 percent from the field and nailing 48 percent of their treys. They surged ahead by as much as 27 points in the first half, securing their spot in Kansas City for the third straight year.

"Our guys are just ready to go with an incredible edge, head coach Colton Kooima said. "It was a pretty impressive effort from our group." Reflecting on the game, he added, "That was a lot of fun to watch as a coach. Those guys just really competed."

Right from the tip-off, Northwestern came out swinging. Jesse Van Kalsbeek dominated inside the paint, while Jalen Langsy was dialed in from downtown. Capitalizing on early turnovers and missed shots by the Yotes, the Raiders jumped to an early lead. Their ball movement was on point, with 10 assists on 18 field goals, and they drained eight of 14 triples.

As the first half wore on, the Raiders extended their lead with long-range contributions from Brennan Reid and Kaleb Booth. Reid then hit a three to go up 22 with 3:12 in the half, getting the Bultman on its feet. Their defense was relentless, forcing five turnovers and holding the Yotes to a 30.4 shooting percentage. By halftime, Northwestern was in control, leading 50-23.

In the second half, the Raiders maintained their momentum, despite a quick response from the Yotes with a flurry of three-pointers. A Northwestern turnover gave the Yotes a chance to close the gap, hitting a three to make it 64-49 with 9:40 to go, but Jesse Van Kalsbeek quickly answered with an and-one, sparking the Raiders back to a 20-point lead.

The Raiders never let up, with Manny Hammonds and Jalen Langsy sinking shots from beyond the arc. Quick transitions and key assists from Kaleb Booth and Jesse Van Kalsbeek kept the pressure on. On defense, Jesse Van Kalsbeek and Isaac Cordes snagged vital steals, putting together an 80-62 win.

"We have some awesome players with a ton of character. Just really proud of them, they've fought through a lot." Looking ahead, Kooima emphasized the team's growth, saying, "We're going to keep growing together. We're going to keep fighting together, trying to take steps day by day."

GAME NOTES
  • The Raiders will make their third consecutive appearance in the Round of 16.
  • Northwestern shot 61.2%, their 11th time this season shooting above 60 percent.
  • Jesse Van Kalsbeek stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
  • Jalen Langsy added 23 points and four assists.
  • Brennan Reid scored in double figures with 11 points.
Up Next: The Raiders will take on No. 1 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) in the Round of 16 on Thursday, March 19. Tip-off is set for 5:00 p.m. at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
Don't forget to follow Northwestern College Athletics on Facebook @nwcraiders, Twitter @nwcraiders, and Instagram @nwcraiders! #RaidersStandOut
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