NEW ULM, Minn. -- The Lawrence University men's basketball team pulled away in the final minutes Saturday and posted an 83-79 nonconference victory over Martin Luther College at the Luther Student Center.
    Nathan Valentine poured in 24 points for the Vikings, and Casey Schoenecker added 20 to lead four Vikings in double figures. Valentine went 7-for-11 from the floor, including 4-for-7 from 3-point range, and added four assists and four rebounds. Schoenecker was 10-for-15 from the floor and picked up three rebounds, a block and a steal.
    Landon Key collected 12 points and five rebounds, and Caleb Nash had 10 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Vikings (2-4).
    The game was tight into the second half when Lawrence scored six consecutive points, four from Valentine and two from Nolan Koch, to grab a 60-46 lead. The Knights reeled the Vikings back in and cut the lead to one at 68-67 with 6:08 remaining.
    Lawrence was up 73-72 when Schoenecker got a dunk off a feed from Valentine to spark the Vikings. After a Martin Luther miss, Valentine converted a pair of free throws with 2:40 remaining for a 77-72 lead. The teams traded missed shots, but Nicholas Gouriotis followed with a layup to push Lawrence's lead to 79-72 with 1:17 left. 
    The teams traded free throws, and the Vikings led 81-74 with 41 ticks remaining. Martin Luther missed a pair of shots but got two offensive rebounds, and Benjamin Vasold hit a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to trim the lead to 81-77.
    Gouriotis then hit one free throw, but Martin Luther got a tip-in with 10 seconds left to cut the lead to 82-79. The Knights fouled Valentine with six seconds left, and he made one foul shot to seal the win.
    Ethan Kjenstad paced Martin Luther (2-3) with 24 points.