MLC men shake off rough start to down Sabercats
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Martin Luther College’s Ben Pearson (12) dribbles to the paint while guarded by Maranatha Baptist’s Brock Grant during a nonconference men’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon at MLC.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Martin Luther College’s Ben Vasold (15) looks to pass the ball near the top of the key during a men’s basketball game against Maranatha Baptist on Saturday at MLC.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Martin Luther College’s Ben Pearson (12) dribbles to the paint while guarded by Maranatha Baptist’s Brock Grant during a nonconference men’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon at MLC.
Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Martin Luther College’s Ben Vasold (15) looks to pass the ball near the top of the key during a men’s basketball game against Maranatha Baptist on Saturday at MLC.
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NEW ULM -- Despite a shaky first half, the Martin Luther College Knights started putting things together in the second half and pulled away from Maranatha Baptist for an 85-68 win on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference men's basketball game.
MLC shot just 34.3% from the floor in the first half but 60.7% in the second half to finish 46%. Maranatha Baptist shot 42.9% from the floor in the first half and 48.3% in the second half for a 45.3% finish.
Adam Loberger had 21 points to lead the Knights (4-6) in the scoring department, while Ben Pearson finished with a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double. Pearson also had four assists Ethan Kjenstad also had 14 points for the Knights, while Luke Fix had 10 points and five rebounds and Ben Vasold had 8 points.
Brock Grant led the Sabercats (2-7) with 22 points, while Will Schultz had 14 points and eight rebounds and Ben Price added 10 points.
After a Pearson 3 put the Knights up 15-11 eight minutes into play, the Sabercats went on an 11-0 run to lead 22-15. The Knights chipped away at the deficit, taking the lead back after a 6-0 run all courtesy of Fix. Fix had a pair of free throws, a slam dunk and a layup to put the Knights up 35-33 during that run.
A Loberger 3 had the Knights up 38-34 at the half.
The Knights took their first double-digit lead of the day, 49-38, on a layup by Pearson with 16:20 left to play. They continued to hold on to their double-digit lead after that, taking their largest lead on a 3 from Austin Erickson in the final two minutes to make it an 85-66 game.