WATERTOWN, Wis. -- It didn't happen in the way they expected, but the Sabercats got what they came for.

With a well-balanced team win, the Sabercats posted an 80-72 scoreline over Association Free Lutheran tonight. MBU had four players with double-digit points.

• Result: Maranatha 80-72 AFLBS
• Venue: MBU Gymnasium
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 124
• Records: MBU (7-7), AFLBS (3-8)

The Conquerors put up more of a fight than the Sabercats were expecting early on, as the visitors managed to stay within hailing distance as the game progressed. Some strong post play from Justin Blake, Rob Sonnenberg, and Matt Gill kept the Sabercats in front, but at halftime, the score was closer than anyone was expecting.

Behind nine points from Blake, the Sabercats held a 43-35 edge over the Conquerors, who didn't look like going down easily.

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The Association stayed close throughout the entire second half - something that wasn't in the Sabercats' script. For the second night in a row, the Sabercats struggled with turning the ball over, as they racked up 15 turnovers on the night.

Despite the miscues, MBU had what it took, as they put four players into double digits to secure the win. Aaron Sanders (12 points), Jonathan Book (12 points), Zeke Steuerwald (11 points), and Blake (10 points) all finished the night with 10 or more.

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MBU Starters: 3-Book, 15-Lerma, 22-Sonnenberg, 23-Wilkerson, 35-Gill // AFLBS Starters: 4-Olson, 11-Quanbeck, 12-Zeltinger, 14-Moan, 23-Dryburgh

"This wasn't our best showing, but a lot of that was due to AFLBS," said Coach Keith Salscheider. "They were a scrappy bunch and they played hard, and they really gave us a run for our money. Their coach has them playing very well, and we didn't come out with our A Game. Part of that was due to us, but part of that was due to them. We were fortunate to come out with the win."

• Steuerwald: second straight game in double figures
• Sanders: 12 points is his season-high mark
• MBU: 51 rebounds as a team - second-best mark this season
• Series: This was the first edition of the series

• AFLBS competes in the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and the Association of Christian College Athletics
• Currently, the Conquerors rank 8th out of 9 competitors in the NIAC
• AFLBS took an 83-94 loss to Oak Hills Christian, who competes in the NCCAA North Region with MBU
• AFLBS lost to Silver Lake College (84-108) despite having four players hit double digits

The Sabercats will conclude their two-day stint at home with a 3:15 p.m. tip against Crown College (UMAC) tomorrow. Follow at mbusabercats.com/composite.