The Charger men's basketball team dropped a closely contested contest to the visiting RV Northwestern Red Raiders 98-90 inside the Newman Flanagan Center Wednesday evening.
 
The Red Raiders shot 54% from the field in the first half and headed into intermission with a 48-42 lead.
 
Briar Cliff opened the second half with a surge, as Jaxson Wingert and Blake Sindelar each knocked down three-pointers to trim the deficit to 51–48 in the opening two minutes. Wingert later capped an 11–3 run with a basket and free throw to briefly give the Chargers their first lead at 54–53 with 16:18 remaining.
 
Both teams traded baskets over the next several possessions, before the Red Raiders knocked down a three with 11:50 remaining in the contest to regain a three-point lead. A jumper from the Red Raiders' Jalen Langsy followed by a basket from Jesse Van Kalsbeek gave NWC a 10-point lead late in the contest.
 
Sindelar finished with a game-high 35 points on 12-of-19 shooting and went five-for-10 from three, while Wingert added 27 points and eight rebounds. Wil Lugar chipped in eight points and four assists. Colby Collison finished with eight points and knocked down a pair of triples in the contest.
 
The Chargers shot 48.3% from the floor and converted on 51.4% of their attempts in the second half. The Cliff knocked down 15 three-pointers in the contest.
 
The Chargers slide to 12-11 (9-7 GPAC) and will travel to Fremont, Nebraska to take on the Midland Warriors this Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.