DECORAH, Iowa - The Luther men's basketball team started the new season with a thrilling 80-70 overtime victory over Macalester College. The game marked the first win on the Birkestrand Family Court in the Gerdin Fieldhouse. 

Macalester led 36-35 at halftime and held an 11-point advantage (54-65) with 4:19 left in the game. The Norse battled back outscoring the Scots 13-2 down the stretch, leveling the scored (67-67) with 21 ticks left in regulation, thanks to a three-point bucket by Andre Palavra. Noah Shannon of Macalester, who led the Scots with 22 points, missed a short range jumper as time expired, that sent the game in to an extra five minutes. In overtime, Luther outscored Macalester 13-3 to secure the come-from-behind victory.  

Palavra, who came off the bench, led the Norse attack. He ignited the crowd in the final nine minutes of action, scoring a game high 23 points, including 11 in the second half and eight in overtime. Palavra was 7-of-13 from the field that included 4-of-7 from behind the arch, and 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Owen Bockenstedt set a career high with 17 points and Jeremy Andera recorded 12 points. Bockenstedt also led the Norse with eight rebounds. 

Box Score

The next game for the Norse will be on Wednesday, Nov. 12 when they will host Crown College at 7 p.m.