Orange City, Iowa — The Charger men’s basketball team scored 27 points in the final 10 minutes of regulation to move past RV Northwestern 61-59 in Orange City, Iowa Wednesday. BC improves to 5-5 on the season and are 3-1 in conference play.
Wednesday’s win snaps a five-game skid against the Red Raiders and is their first victory in the Bultman Center since the 2017-18 season. BC’s defense held the Red Raiders, who entered tonight shooting 53.3% from the field, to a field goal percentage of 38.3%.
The Chargers raced out to a 12-4 lead six minutes into the contest, behind nine points from Kyle Boerhave. The Red Raiders would take their first lead of the game 13-12 at the 10-minute mark off a 9-0 run. A layup from Andrew Gibb with one minute remaining in the half capped off a 9-0 Charger run as they took a 31-24 lead into intermission.
Boerhave and Conner Groves paced the Cliff in the opening 20 minutes with nine and eight points, respectively. Quinn Vesey came away with four steals as BC scored 10 points off turnovers.
Jaden Kleinhesselink opened the second half with a trey, but the Charger offense would then go nine minutes without scoring. Kleinhesselink ended the drought with a 3-pointer at the midway point of the half as BC trailed 40-37.
With the score tied at 45-45, Vesey and Northwestern’s Trent Hilbrands battled over the next four minutes. Vesey scored 11 straight points for the Chargers knocking down three treys, while Hilbrands scored all nine points for the Red Raiders off three triples as the Cliff took a 56-54 edge.
The Chargers knocked down 3-of-4 free throw attempts in the final minute, and with a two-point lead Vesey secured the game winning rebound on Alex Van Kalsbeek’s miss as time expired.
The Chargers had four players in double figures with Groves and Vesey leading the way with 13 points apiece. Vesey notched six rebounds and four steals while Groves had four boards and dished out four assists. Kleinhesselink had 12 points and six rebounds. Boerhave netted 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
BC shot 42.6% from the field and 37.9% from deep with 11 triples, compared to 38.3% shooting and 25.8% from the 3-point line from Northwestern. Briar Cliff had more steals 4-1 and scored more points off turnovers 10-4. The Red Raiders had an edge in second chance points 16-2 and paint points 18-12.
Hilbrands had a game high 26 points on 10-for-24 shooting and Van Kalsbeek recorded a double double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Chargers return to the Newman Flanagan Center next Wednesday hosting cross-town rival Morningside for a 7:45 p.m. tip-off.
