Knights edge Hamline 81-79; MLC women top Viterbo

ST. PAUL -- Martin Luther College went to Mr. Outside (Jeff Loberger) in the first half, then to Mr. Inside (Tom Engelbrecht) in the second half to stop Hamline University 81-79 in men's basketball action Saturday.

Loberger hit five of nine three-point attempts en route to 24 points as MLC took a 47-44 lead at halftime. He scored only two more points in the second half, but MLC went inside to Engelbrecht, who went around Hamline's 6-10 center for 10 of 16 field goal tries, and six of eight free throw attempts to match Loberger's 26 points. Micah Walz added 12 points.

MLC held as slim three point lead as the game neared the end, and Hamline cut the margin to one in the closing seconds. But Dan Unke hit a clutch free throw with six seconds left, and Hamline couldn't get another shot off before the buzzer.

MLC is 2-5 on the year, and has a break before playing in a tournament in Orange City Jan. 3 and 4.

MLC takes Consolation title at Viterbo

La CROSSE, Wis. -- Martin Luther College played tough defense -- and played it all game -- to down Viterbo College 59-51 in the Viterbo Tournament consolation finals Saturday.

With a smothering man-to-man defense, the Knights held ususally high-scoring Viterbo to 51 points on 26.4 percent shooting.

"We finally played a full 40 minute game," said coach Gene Pfeifer. "Friday night against River Falls it was a two-point game at the half, then we fell flat in the second half. Today we were up by five at the half and I told them, 'Guys, we have to play a whole game this time,' and they really responded to that."

MLC led 26-21 at the half, and outscored Viterbo 33-30 in the second half.

Annie Uecker led the team with 12 points, while Emma Babinec and Erin Czer added 11 each. Babinec had 11 rebounds and Czer had seven.

Sarah Gronholz had eight points and four blocked shots, while Beth Ebeling, playing with the flu, pulled down seven rebounds and had seven assists.

MLC heads into the Christmas break with a 4-4 record. They host Viterbo on Jan. 8.