Second-half spurt pushes Raiders past Jimmies

ORANGE CITY, Iowa-- A 26-5 second-half run by the Northwestern College Red Raiders proved to be the difference as the 21st-ranked University of Jamestown men's basketball team lost 88-79 Wednesday night.

The loss snapped UJ's six-game winning streak as their record fell to 18-6 overall and 14-5 in the GPAC. Northwestern won its ninth straight and improves to 19-5 overall and 14-5 in the conference.

Jamestown led 43-40 at the half and went ahead 58-50 after Brock Schrom (SR/Grand Rapids, MN) scored at the 14:17 mark of the second. On the Raiders' next possession, Trent Hilbrands converted a four-point play, cutting the lead in half and igniting the home team's comeback.

After Isaac Heyer sank a free throw to finish off a three-point play, NWC had scored 11 straight and went ahead by three with 10:15 to play.

Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) scored to end the run, but Heyer drained a three on the next trip down the floor to make it a four-point game again.

Schrom's three-point play brought the Jimmies within a point with 9:54 remaining. Hilbrands made a jump shot to kick off a 12-0 run, and UJ was behind an unlucky 13 points with just under five minutes in the game.

The Raiders shot 60 percent in the second half compared to the Jimmies' 45 percent. NWC was 10-for-11 at the foul line while UJ was just 1-of-3.

Marc Kjos (SO/Lake City, MN) led the way for Jamestown with 20 points, making six three-pointers. He also dished out seven assists. Will Cordes (FR/Shakopee, MN) added 17 while Walters (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Schrom (13 points, 10 rebounds) recorded double-doubles.

Alex Van Kalsbeek led all players with 27 points and 14 rebounds. Hilbrands and Heyer both finished with 23.

The Jimmies finish the regular season at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on February 20.j