NEW ULM, Minn. - For the second consecutive day, the Martin Luther College men's basketball team was unable to slow down a hot-shooting opposing offense in a 97-71 loss to Northwestern on Saturday.

North Central made 19 three-pointers and shot 55.9 percent against the Knights Friday night, and UNW nearly matched that output on Saturday, shooting 15-26 (57.7 percent) from downtown.

The Eagles shot 60.6 percent in the first half on the way to building a 54-34 halftime edge. Todd Brassow scored 20 points in the half for the Knights, making nine of his 16 attempts to keep MLC in shouting distance.

MLC would continue to battle in the second half, and cut the lead into single digits midway through the half, but the Eagles were able to put the game away with a 14-3 run late in the game.

Brassow finished with a game-high 32 points on 14-25 shooting from the field. He was also hot from downtown, making four of his five attempts. MLC shot 10-22 (45.5 percent) from beyond the arc for the game.

T.J. Babinec added 12 points for MLC, while Austin Eisenmenn grabbed 11 rebounds to go with a team-high five assists and two steals.

The Knights fell to 1-12 on the season and 1-5 in UMAC play in defeat. The win improved UNW's record to 12-2 overall and 5-1 in league play.

MLC will return to action on Friday, January 15, when it hosts Crown College. That game is scheduled to tip off at 5:30 p.m.