Estherville, IA --- The Lakers came out strong, shooting 50% in the first half and building a 43–35 lead behind balanced scoring and defensive energy. Iowa Lakes had five players finish in double figures, showcasing depth and offensive versatility. Jack Wadlington led the way with 18 points and 5 assists, followed by Jermaine Freeman with 16, Jorge Castro with 12, Steven Martinez with 12, and Cooper Harris adding 11. Germaal Forde and Timothy Ofesi each had 8 points, 4 rebounds. The Lakers received 30 points from their bench and held a slight edge in points in the paint (32–30), but couldn't overcome Northwestern's hot shooting down the stretch.

Despite the strong individual performances, Northwestern JV stormed back after halftime, outscoring Iowa Lakes 56–42. Blake Aalbers powered the comeback with a game-high 35 points. Iowa Lakes cooled off in the second half, shooting just 35.1% from the field.

Iowa Lakes falls to 1-7 and will look to bounce back in their next matchup, opening conference play on the road at Central Nebraska next Tuesday at 7:30 pm.