APPLETON, Wis. — Conor Klusendorf poured in a season-high 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Lawrence University men’s basketball team to an 80-57 Midwest Conference victory over Illinois College on Saturday at Alexander Gymnasium.
Klusendorf went 7-for-13 from the floor and was 11-for-13 from the foul line for the Vikings (9-10, 7-7 MWC). The 26 points is the second-highest total of Klusendorf’s career. His career high is 35 points vs. Grinnell College back on Jan. 22, 2011.
Chris Siebert added 19 points and a game-high four assists for Lawrence. Ryan DePouw chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds, and Brian Gryszkiewicz added 10 points.
Kathan Kohler paced Illinois College (8-11, 5-9) with 17 points.
Lawrence took control of the game early by scoring the game’s first 10 points. The Vikings pushed the lead to 26-7 with 10:19 left in the first half on Trace Sonnleitner’s layup.
The Blueboys cut the lead back to 15 points, but Lawrence went on a 16-5 run to move the lead to 42-16 with 2:39 left in the first half. Illinois College managed to score the last six points of the first half, and the Vikings led 42-22 at the half.
Lawrence wasn’t able to put the Blueboys away early as Illinois College opened the second half on a 14-4 run. Kohler’s layup with 14:14 left cut the lead to 46-36.
Lawrence pushed the lead back to 18 points, but Illinois College was within 13 points after a pair of Kohler free throws with 4:28 left.
Klusendorf countered with a thunderous dunk for the Vikings, and Lawrence then hit three free throws to push the lead back to 69-51 with 3:37 left to seal the win.
Lawrence returns to action on Wednesday when it hosts Beloit College.