Balanced attack leads Lawrence past Prairie Fire

APPLETON, Wis. — Four Lawrence University men’s basketball players scored in double figures on Saturday, and the Vikings used that balanced attack to post a 76-60 Midwest Conference victory over Knox College at Alexander Gymnasium.

Trace Sonnleitner led Lawrence (7-11, 5-8 MWC) with a game-high 19 points. Troy Miller added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Vikings, and Ryan DePouw and Jeremy Stephani scored 10 points apiece. DePouw also posted game highs with eight rebounds and five assists.

Mitch Murphy paced Knox (5-13, 3-10) with 14 points and five rebounds, and Deandre Weathersby added 10 points and four assists.

Lawrence grabbed the advantage early and kept the Prairie Fire at arm’s length throughout the game. DePouw scored five points in a 10-0 Lawrence run that gave the Vikings a 20-10 lead with 9:16 left in the opening half.

Knox closed to six points late in the first half before Sonnleitner’s layup gave Lawrence a 34-26 lead at the break.

Sonnleitner gave the Vikings a boost early in the second half as Lawrence went on a 12-2 scoring run. Sonnleitner scored seven points in that run and Andrew Borresen hit a 3-pointer before Jamie Nikitas capped the outburst with a layup to give Lawrence a 46-30 edge.

Knox trimmed the lead to 46-34, but Lawrence immediately stretched the lead back to 56-37. Knox closed the margin to 64-52 with 6:41 left, but Stephani answered with a 3-pointer. Knox didn’t get closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

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