Siebert leads Lawrence as Vikings rally past Lake Forest

APPLETON, Wis. — Chris Siebert poured in 20 points and was clutch down the stretch as the Lawrence University men’s basketball team rallied for a 63-59 Midwest Conference victory over Lake Forest College on Wednesday at Alexander Gymnasium.

Siebert went 6-for-9 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the foul line, and he hit a huge 3-pointer down the stretch to lead the Vikings (6-6, 4-3 MWC). Siebert also hit four big free throws in the final minute to help seal the victory.

Ryan DePouw added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds for Lawrence.

Jeff Beck scored 22 points and went 10-for-10 from the foul line to pace Lake Forest (4-9, 2-6). Brian Madson added 11 points and a game-high seven rebounds for the Foresters.

Lake Forest jumped on the Vikings early and raced to a 20-5 lead with 10:36 left in the first half. Lawrence trailed 30-20 but rode a scoring burst to finish the first half. Siebert drained a 3-pointer with 2:43 left, and Brian Gryszkiewicz followed with a layup. Gryszkiewicz then picked up a steal and fed Siebert for a fastbreak layup to cut Lake Forest’s lead to 30-27 at the half.

The Vikings trailed 43-37 before going on a 10-2 run to take their first lead of the game. Jamie Nikitas hit a 3-pointer to get the run started, and Conor Klusendorf picked up a steal and dunk to cut the lead to 45-43. Siebert and Klusendorf then hit back-to-back jumpers to give Lawrence a 47-45 lead with 6:14 left.

Lake Forest grabbed the lead back at 49-48, but DePouw’s three-point play gave Lawrence the lead back for good at 51-49.

The Vikings were up 53-51 when Siebert drained a key 3-pointer to put the Vikings up 56-51 with 2:01 remaining. The teams then traded free throws, and Lawrence held a 58-55 lead when Nikitas was fouled with 28 seconds left. He hit one free throw to put Lawrence up 59-55.

Klusendorf then stole the ball from Beck near midcourt and finished with a dunk to give the Vikings a 61-55 edge. Klusendorf was whistled for a technical foul for hanging on the rim, and Beck converted a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 61-57 with 16 seconds left.

The Foresters then got a layup from Mitch Caywood with six seconds left, and Lake Forest fouled Siebert with three seconds remaining. He hit both free throws to seal the victory.

Lawrence returns to action on Saturday when it travels to Grinnell College to face the nation’s highest-scoring team.

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