LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Lawrence University men’s basketball team rallied from a 10-point second-half deficit and beat Lake Forest College 63-61 in a Midwest Conference game on Tuesday night.
Conor Klusendorf had his third 20-plus point game of the season to pace Lawrence (12-10, 10-7 MWC). The senior forward finished with a game-high 21 points and added five rebounds for the Vikings, who have won four straight.
Jamie Nikitas and Chris Siebert added 13 points apiece for the Vikings, and Tyler Mazur had 10 points.
Jeff Beck paced Lake Forest (7-15, 5-12) with 20 points, and Chris Madson grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Foresters led by only one early in the second half, but Lake Forest pushed that lead to 41-31 with 14:37 remaining in the game. The Foresters were up by eight at 47-39 when the Vikings rallied.
Klusendorf scored six points and Siebert and Brian Gryszkiewicz both added a basket as Lawrence went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 49-49 with 6:59 left.
The game was still tied at 57-57 when Siebert scored on a layup to put the Vikings up by two with 2:07 left. After a free throw by Brian Madson cut the lead to 59-58, the teams traded missed shots.
Siebert was fouled with 48 seconds left and hit one free throw for a 60-58 edge. Brian Madson then missed a 3-pointer, and the Vikings grabbed the rebound. Siebert was fouled with 26 seconds left and made one free throw to put Lawrence up 61-58.
Nikitas then turned in a key defensive play when he stole Beck’s pass and was fouled with 16.6 seconds left. Nikitas made both free throws to give Lawrence a 63-58 advantage.
Beck countered with a 3-pointer to cut the margin to 63-61, but the Vikings inbounded the ball to Siebert, who ran out the final seconds for the win.
Lawrence wraps up the regular season on Saturday when it hosts Grinnell College.