Waldorf Men's Basketball Cannot Keep Pace at Home Against Northwestern

FOREST CITY, Iowa. Northwestern used a dominant shooting night and a commanding edge on the glass to defeat Waldorf 89-74 in men's basketball action Wednesday night in Forest City, Iowa. The Warriors fell behind by double digits midway through the first half and were unable to erase the deficit despite a strong perimeter showing led by Conner Aldridge.

Northwestern built its separation in the opening 20 minutes, turning a tight early contest into a 48-34 halftime advantage. After the teams traded baskets to a 13-11 margin, the visitors seized control with a sustained run that pushed the lead to 38-19, fueled by inside finishes from Jesse Van Kalsbeek and timely 3-pointers from the Red Raiders' backcourt. Waldorf continued to battle from beyond the arc to stay within striking distance, but Northwestern's efficiency around the rim and in transition dictated the pace.

The Warriors faced an uphill climb against a Northwestern offense that finished 34-of-61 (55.7 percent) from the field and 12-of-24 (50.0 percent) from 3-point range. Van Kalsbeek was a constant problem in the paint, closing with 25 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists on 11-of-18 shooting. Northwestern also controlled the boards with a 39-26 rebounding advantage and moved the ball effectively, registering 22 assists on its 34 field goals.

Waldorf answered on the perimeter, knocking down 13-of-34 attempts (38.2 percent) from long distance to keep the margin manageable for much of the night. Aldridge led the Warriors with 20 points and six rebounds, connecting on 5-of-11 from 3-point range and 7-of-17 overall in 35 minutes. Waldorf finished 28-of-71 (39.4 percent) from the field and committed just nine turnovers, but the shooting disparity and rebounding gap ultimately proved decisive.

Northwestern continued to apply pressure early in the second half, opening with a 3-pointer from Jalen Langsy to extend the lead to 51-34 and maintaining a cushion in the high teens. Back-to-back scoring plays from Manny Hammonds and Van Kalsbeek pushed the deficit to 58-42, and the visitors later stretched the margin to 79-60 on another 3-pointer. Waldorf generated late offense, including a final-minute 3-pointer from McNeal Thompson IV to close the scoring at 89-74, but the Warriors could not string together enough stops to mount a serious comeback.

Langsy added 21 points and four assists for Northwestern, going 6-of-12 from the floor and a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line, while Hammonds provided a perimeter spark with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range. Brennan Reid anchored the Red Raiders' interior presence with 11 rebounds, three assists and steady defensive work in 28 minutes.

Despite the result, Waldorf's backcourt production and 3-point shooting offered positives against one of the league's more efficient offenses. The Warriors will conclude their season at home against Dordt University on Saturday, February 21. The Warriors are sitting at 6-21 for the season, with a 2-17 mark in conference play.