THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 52-55 Northland
• Location: Maranatha Baptist University
• Attendance: 147
• Record: Sabercats are now 9-9
• Next Game for MBU: Thursday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. vs Illinois Tech

THE LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- For the third time in as many games, the Sabercats were heavily out-shot in a narrow loss. And against the Jacks from Northland College, it was a tale of two halves.

Frustratingly enough, this was the fourth time this season that the Sabercats have dropped a 1-possession game. Recently, it's been a story of chances, as the Sabercats' last 3 opponents have had an average of 18 more shots per game.

THE STORY

The Sabercats started well, as they ran an up-tempo offense that secured a 12-2 lead through the opening 6 minutes. But after the Sabercats' opening blitz, neither team could get their shots to fall on a consistent basis - in the middle of the half, it was a bona fide defensive battle.

Later in the half, the Sabercats found their mark for a short time, anyway, as they connected their chances from 4 out of 5 possessions. This moved them out to a 12-point lead, which was their largest of the first half.

After 20 minutes of upscale defense, the Sabercats had the halftime lead, 31-22.

MBU seemed to stay in control of the game in the early stages of the second half, but the Jacks began dangerously chipping away at the lead. NC was able to grab some key offensive rebounds to keep the fire burning in their comeback. From 13 points back, the Jacks found themselves 2 points behind at the 10-minute mark, and they grabbed their first lead of the half with 5:30 left.

A couple of answering free throws from Mat Gill snatched the lead right back, and a stalemate ensued for the following 3 minutes. 

When the game came down to the wire, the Jacks couldn't miss. The visitors sank each of their final 6 shots to steal the 3-point lead on the Sabercats' home floor.

THE SOUND BITE

"I thought we played pretty well, especially defensively," said Coach Keith Salscheider after the game. "But between offensive rebounds and turnovers, we gave [Northland] 20 extra shots, and that's the ballgame right there. We've just got one aspect to figure out, and when we figure that out, we'll be a pretty good team."

THE NUMBERS

Bryce Cashner led the Sabercats with 14 points.

Jonathan Book added 9 points and Gill came off the bench with 7.

The Jacks had two players in double digits.

MBU shot 42.6 percent from the floor while the Jacks shot 34.3 percent.

NC limited their turnovers to 10 while the Sabercats coughed it up 21 times.

Northland now leads the all-time series, 12-5.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will stay on their home floor for an 8 p.m. game Thursday against Illinois Tech. Catch the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.