Nikitas scores 34 as Vikings top Beloit

BELOIT, Wis. — Jamie Nikitas poured in 34 points Wednesday to lead the Lawrence University men’s basketball team to a 76-72 Midwest Conference victory over Beloit College at Flood Arena.

Nikitas tied his career scoring high set earlier this season, and Jeremy Stephani added 16 points for the Vikings (2-3, 1-2 MWC). Nikitas went 12-for-23 from the floor and 8-for-10 from the foul line, and he also picked up six steals, three rebounds and a pair of assists.

Steve McAfee led Beloit (2-3, 1-2) with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Lawrence led by as many as 15 points early in the second half, but the Bucs whittled the lead down late at the foul line. Beloit hit five consecutive free throws to trim the margin to 67-64 with 2:24 remaining.

Nikitas countered with a jumper for the Vikings, but Rudy Bentley answered with a layup to cut the lead back to 69-66. Bentley finished with 15 points.

The Bucs then fouled Nikitas, who converted a pair of free throws with 37 seconds left for a 71-66 edge. McAfee missed a 3-pointer, and Nikitas was fouled again. He made one free throw to push the lead to 72-66, but the Bucs scored the next four points, sandwiched around a pair of Lawrence misses at the foul line, to cut the lead to 72-70.

Nikitas then made four consecutive free throws in the final eight seconds to seal the victory.

Beloit built a 19-12 advantage early, but the Vikings took command for the rest of the half. Lawrence went on a 19-3 run to take a 31-22 lead with 4:48 left in the opening half.

Ben Peterson hit a pair of 3-pointers for the Vikings during that stretch and finished with eight points in the game. Mitch Willer added nine points, five rebounds and a pair of blocks for Lawrence.

Lawrence would go on to lead 42-32 at the half, and the Vikings went on a 7-2 outburst to start the second half. Stephani’s 3-pointer capped that run to give Lawrence its biggest lead of the game at 49-34.

Box score