DECORAH, Iowa – The stage was set. The drama was high. Tension in the Regents Center could be cut with a knife. On Wednesday night, Luther College men's basketball's Andrew Lazinbat (San Antonio, Texas / Brandies) became more than just the team's starting point guard. He became a legend. 

In a thrilling game that featured dismantled leads, dramatic comeback and improbable shots, Lazinbat's last second step back jumper stands out above the rest. Why? Because it lifted the Norse to a 65-64 victory over Coe College. After leading 43-31 at the half, Luther watched its lead slip away before using a dramatic comeback of its own to tie the game at 59-59. Then, maybe in the most serendipitous way possible, the Norse claimed their victory, as Lazinbat's shot fell through the net with 1.9 seconds left, securing the 65-64 win for Luther. Thanks to the victory, the Norse are now 5-13 overall and 2-8 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play. 

HOW LEGENDS ARE MADE

Nothing, not one single thing, went wrong for Luther in the opening 20 minutes of play. The Norse offense was firing on all cylinders, as they shot a blistering .533 from the floor in the first half, including a season-high .643 clip from beyond the arc. It was as though Luther could not miss, as Ben Gill (Sydney, Australia / Newington College) and Matthew Franzen (Decorah, Iowa / Decorah) led the offensive charge for the Norse. Even the defense could do no wrong. Thanks to stingy play in the paint and on the perimeter, Luther held Coe to a .375 shooting percentage in the first half, including a .357 clip from beyond the arc. 

Things were going so well for the Norse that Franzen's off balance, one-legged, one-armed heave of a shot to close the first half seemed normal. With the Kohawks gaining momentum in the closing seconds, Franzen took the inbound pass and streaked up the court, getting across half court before sending the ball toward the net. It went in, improbably, almost, extending Luther's lead to 43-31 at the end of the half. The Norse spent the opening five minutes of the second watching that lead slip away. With renewed defensive vigor, Coe held Luther to three points in the opening five minutes of the half, whittling the lead to 48-47 by 12:19. 

Mat Rohden (Joinville, Brazil / Juan Diego Catholic) boosted the Norse lead to 50-47 with a driving layup, but the Kohawks still held the momentum. In the ensuing five minutes, Coe would just the lead to one before taking its first lead since the first half at 51-50. The Kohawks would lead for the next five minutes until Lazinbat's layup with 3:50 remaining in regulation tied the game at 59-59. 

The final four minutes were anxiety inducing, as Luther gained a 61-59 advantage on a Gill basket, but Coe responded by tying it at 61-61 on its next offensive possession. Again, the Norse went down the court and took a lead, this time on a layup by Mikkel Schutte (Houston, Minn. / Houston). Up 63-61 with exactly one minute remaining in regulation, Luther watched as Coe took a one point lead at 64-63, when Cael Schmitt's desperate three beat the shot clock by tenths of a second to put the Kohawks ahead. 

With the seconds waning, Myke Shed (Teague, Texas / Teague) drew a foul and called timeout, ensuring the Norse would have the last possession of the ballgame. Head coach Mark Franzen drew up the play with his top offensive players all out on the floor. The ball was inbounded to Lazinbat with 14.9 on the clock. The junior point guard charged the basket and swung back out to the top of the key, trying to draw a defender or screen. Coe's defense didn't budge. He moved to his right, along the perimeter, deked his defender just inside the elbow, and put up a shot with 1.9 remaining on the clock. Unlike his shot against Center, the ball gracefully fell through the hoop, giving Luther a 65-64 lead with under two seconds to go. 

The Kohawks immediately called timeout to draw up a Hail Mary play, but the Norse defense was too strong. Luther deflected the inbound pass, preventing Coe from having any shot of a good look. The Kohawks took a shot of desperation anyway, but the shot fell short, allowing the crowd to erupt as the Norse claimed the game 65-64. 

TOP NORSE

• Matthew Franzen (Decorah, Iowa / Decorah) was the top scorer and shooter for Luther Wednesday night. The junior scored a team-leading 13 points, shooting 5-8 from the floor, including a 3-4 clip from three-point range.
• Ben Gill (Sydney, Australia / Newington College) added 10 points and seven rebounds, while Mikkel Schutte (Houston, Minn. / Houston) led the way with nine rebounds. 
• In addition to his game-winning shot, Andrew Lazinbat (San Antonia, Texas / Brandeis) led the team with five assists.

UP NEXT
Luther is back at home for its next A-R-C contest, as the Norse are set to host Buena Vista University on Saturday, January 28. Tip off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in Decorah, Iowa.