SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- A 24-point lead early in the first half was too much for Nebraska Wesleyan to overcome as #24 Briar Cliff defeated the Prairie Wolves 97-88 on Saturday (Dec. 20) in GPAC men's basketball action at the Newman Flanagan Center in Sioux City.

NWU remains winless in GPAC play with an 0-6 conference record falling to 2-8 overall.  Briar Cliff extends their winning streak to six straight as the Chargers have just one loss in conference action.

Briar Cliff took it to the Prairie Wolves early as NWU looked sluggish after their week off for final exams.  The Chargers built up a 24-point lead in the first half with a 39-15 advantage with eight minutes left in the half.  NWU did chip away and trailed by 14 points at the half.

In the second half, Nebraska Wesleyan actually outscored the Chargers by five points.  It was opposite of the previous two contests where NWU was outscored dramatically in the second half after leading early in the game.

NWU played right with the Chargers in the second period and cut the lead to ten points with the ball with just over two minutes remaining.  A turnover was called on the Prairie Wolves and BCU made just enough free throws to keep it a double digit contest.  NWU did get within 10 point in the final seconds.

Trey Bardsley scored 24 points to lead the Prairie Wolves as he hit 3-8 from 3-point range.  Travis Giesselmann got hot in the second half and finished with 21 points on 4-8 from beyond the arc.  Byron Thompson had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Keithan Karn scored 12 points.  As a team, the Prairie Wolves were 12-35 from 3-point range.

Briar Cliff shot just over 50 percent as a team from the floor, making 10-24 from 3-point range.  Five players scored in double figures led by Bryan Forbes with 17 points.

NWU will now be off for 10 days until they travel to Texas to face Austin College on Dec. 30.