The Briar Cliff men's basketball had the long ball flowing in the first half of Wednesday's 81-66 win over Mount Marty. The Chargers knocked 10 3-pointers in the game's opening 20 minutes as they held an eight-point lead at half.
 
"It was another good win for us, when we get to February you have to do whatever it takes to win. Our guys did a really good job tonight responding to a couple of runs Mount Marty made at us, one early in the second half, and when things got dicey late in the game we buckled down and got a couple of stops. Proud of the guys for stepping up and knocking down free throws late." "
 
The Chargers first 15 points all came from behind the 3-point line as they knocked down five of their first seven attempts from deep. Jaden Kleinhesselink and Quinn Vesey each knocked down two treys in the opening six minutes.
 
The Charger barrage from deep continued throughout the half as 10 of their 13 total field goals were 3-point baskets. Kleinhesselink and Vesey paced the Cliff, combining to score over half of BC's 36 points. While the Chargers found scoring from the outside, the Lancers battled inside, scoring 16 points in the paint in the first half. Despite the hot shooting, the Lancers stayed within single digits as the Cliff led 36-28 at half.
 
Kyle Boerhave dished out four assists and grabbed three rebounds, while Nathan Hall secured four rebounds in six minutes off the bench in the first half.
 
Nick Hoyt and Vesey opened up the scoring for BC in the second half, knocking down back-to-back treys to take a 12-point lead. The Lancers pulled within four points at the 15-minute mark, but the Chargers outscored Mount Marty 20-4 over the next five minutes to take control of the contest, 66-46.
 
Mount Marty clawed back to a single-digit deficit with a minute to go, but the Chargers iced the game at the free throw line going a perfect 8-for-8.
 
"All-in-all it was a really good team effort, we got some contributions from a lot of guys," said Svagera. "Obviously Jaden and Quinn were really good for us offensively tonight, but it was a team effort and when we have 20 assists on 26 made baskets that's playing Briar Cliff basketball and when Boerhave has seven of them that makes our offense flow pretty well. Good to get another win and we're going to keep pushing forward."
 
Kleinhesselink poured in 22 points on 5-of-6 shooting from deep, while Vesey had 22 points, six rebounds, two steals and went 8-for-9 from the free throw line with four triples.
 
Groves added 16 points off the bench, while Boerhave had team highs in rebounds (7) and assists (7).
 
BC extended their double-digit 3-pointers made streak to four games and have now hit that mark 14 times this season. BC held a 20-to-12 assist-to-turnover ratio on the night.
 
The Chargers will travel crosstown Saturday to face #18 Morningisde at 3:45 p.m.