Quinn Vesey poured in a season high 22 points as the Briar Cliff men's basketball team earned a season sweep over RV Northwestern. With the 81-69 win over the Red Raiders, the Chargers have won eight straight contests and are 14-6 (10-2 GPAC).
 
"I really liked the focus and energy that our guys played with tonight," said head coach Mark Svagera. "We made a lot defensive plays early on, and that set the tone for us. In the second half we weathered a couple of Northwestern runs and made a couple of big shots to secure the win."

Vesey got the Chargers going early with back-to-back 3-pointers to open the contest. With the score tied 12-12 five minutes into the game, the Chargers erupted for an 18-2 over the next seven minutes to take a 32-14 lead. Jaden Kleinhesselink and Matthew Stilwill each scored six points and the team went 8-for-10 from the field during the run.
 
A Kleinhesselink bucket gave BC their largest lead of the night 37-17 with 5:43 remaining in the half. Trent Hilbrands knocked down a NWC 3-pointer to pull within 15 points, but after a Stilwill bucket the Chargers held a 44-27 lead at halftime. 
 
The Chargers finished the half shooting 59.3% from the field, 63.6% from deep and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. They also scored 13 points off turnovers and their bench contributed 14 points. Kleinhesselink lead the Cliff with 13 first half points.
 
Northwestern outscored BC 14-4 over the first five minutes of the second half, but BC held onto a 48-40 edge. The Red Raiders cut the Charger lead to six with 13:24 remaining with a Keyton Moser bucket. A trey from Nick Hoyt started a 9-0 Charger run as they pushed their lead back to double-digits 60-45. 
 
The Cliff held onto their double-figure lead for the final 12 minutes of regulation. Vesey scored 11 of the Chargers final 25 points as they closed out their 10th GPAC win 81-69.
 
Vesey went 7-for-13 from the field with six 3-pointers on the way to his 22 points. He also added three steals, two rebounds and two assists. Kleinhesselink added 21 points and six rebounds on 60.0% shooting. Stilwill continues to provide quality minutes off the BC bench with 15 points, three rebounds and two steals. 
 
BC shot 51.7 from the field, 52.0% from deep and went 8-for-11 from the charity stripe, compared to 48.3% from the floor, 43.5% from the 3-point line and 3-for-4 from the line for NWC.
 
Hilbrands scored a game high 27 points on 10-for-22 shooting with seven triples and five boards. Alex Van Kalsbeek added 20 points and eight rebounds. Noah Slagter chipped in 10 points. 
 
The Chargers return to the court next Wednesday in Fremont, Nebraska for a 7:45 p.m. tip-off against Midland.