MONMOUTH, Ill. — Chris Siebert poured in a career-high 30 points to lead the Lawrence University men’s basketball team to an 87-73 Midwest Conference victory over Monmouth College on Saturday at Glennie Gymnasium.
Siebert hit 8 of 13 shots from the floor, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range, and he went a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line. The junior guard ecliped his previous career high of 26 points, set vs. Wisconsin Lutheran College on Nov. 18, 2011. Siebert also tied for game-high honors with seven rebounds and he added three assists and a steal.
Lawrence (8-9, 6-6 MWC) also got stellar performances from sophomore Ryan DePouw, who added 18 points and a game-high five assists, and from freshman Jamie Nikitas, who chipped in with 17 points.
The Vikings had one of their best free-throw games in recent memory by hitting 31 of 35 shots from the stripe.
Mike DeDecker led Monmouth (4-14, 3-10) with 17 points and seven rebounds.
Lawrence was down 15-4 early, but the Vikings went on a 13-2 run, capped with 3-pointers from DePouw and Tyler Mazur, to tie the game at 17-17. The Vikings grabbed their first lead with 6:06 left in the first half, and Lawrence would go on to lead 38-32 at the half.
The Vikings quickly doubled that lead early in the second half, with Siebert draining a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 48-36 lead with 17:26 remaining. Monmouth cut the lead back to one at 56-55 midway through the second half, but the Scots were never able to regain the lead.
Lawrence gradually pulled away, and the lead was back to 10 at 75-65 on Nikitas’ layup with 2:43 left. The Vikings then went 10-for-12 from the foul line in the final 2:24 to seal the victory.