GRINNELL, Iowa - The Luther men's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 114-108 victory over Grinnell College on Wednesday. The Norse had five players in double-digits with
Randall Days leading the team with 33 points.
Ben Gill had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Luther was just five points away from tying of school record for most points in a game with 119 against Bellevue in the 1976-77 season.
In the high scoring affair the tempo of the game was fast throughout as neither team had more than a four point advantage. Luther pulled away thanks to a 7-2 run to close out the first half. The run included a dunk from
Eros Carpio and a blocked shot by
Luke Prendergast with four seconds to go. Luther led 59-47 at the break.
Then in the second half, Norse had their largest lead of 16 points with 19:06 to play. However, this game was far from over as Grinnell started to close the gap once again going up by one at 80-79 with under ten minutes to play. Luther continued to score points building back a 14-point lead with 3:43 left with free throws from Gill.
The Pioneers rallied again making it a two possession game with four seconds to go but Luther was able to get the ball in bounds to secure the victory.
The Norse shot 64.3 percent from the field with 76 points in the paint. Luther also won the boards with 67 rebounds.
TOP NORSE
- Days dropped a career high 33 points and recorded 9 rebounds.
- Gill had his first double-double of the season with 13 point and 10 rebounds.
- Mikkel Schutte and Prendergast both tallied 15 points while Carpio had 13.
UP NEXT
The Norse travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to take on North Central University on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.
