Boys basketball: Record-setting Spud helps topple Willmar

WILLMAR — Aaron Lien led a Moorhead comeback from a 15-point deficit and, in the process, set the Spuds’ career scoring record in a 64-59 non-conference victory Saturday over Willmar.
The Cardinals, who led 36-21 at halftime, saw Lien, a 6-foot-5 forward, score 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half to spark Moorhead’s comeback. Austin Nelson, a 6-6 forward, put up another 19 points.
Said Willmar coach Steve Grove of the Spuds’ second-half comeback, “Lien and Nelson, they just got the ball inside and took the game over. Lien was able to post up down low and he’s a good ball handler. Nelson kind of did the same thing. He made some nice cuts to the rim and was able to dribble-drive to the rim.
The Cardinals fell to 11-10 overall and they play at Brainerd on Thursday.
Willmar’s Austin Rambow scored 19 points and pulled down 7 rebounds, and Kyler Johnson added 16 more points with the help of four 3-pointers. Joe Leuze added 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 5 points.
Lien finished the game with 1,655 career points, breaking the school record of 2008 graduate Jordan Driscoll.
The Spuds came to Willmar with a five-game winning streak that included dealing Brainerd its first loss, 95-93, at Moorhead, on Feb. 1.
Moorhead 64, Willmar 59
Moorhead (13-5) 21 43 — 64
Willmar (11-10) 36 23 — 59
MOORHEAD – 26-45 FG (2-10 3-pt); 10-14 FT; 27 rebounds; 14 fouls … Scoring: Zack Dobbins 9, Aaron Lien 20, Tanner Swenson 1, Cody Dorow 9, Brett Lawerence 6, Austin Nelson 19 … 3-point shots: Nelson 2
WILLMAR – 20-55 FG (8-23 3-pt); 11-16 FT; 23 rebounds; 16 fouls … Scoring: Joe Leuze 5, Jordan Geurtz 5, Dylan Schueler 8, Cody Magnuson 4, Kyler Johnson 16, Austin Rambow 19, Alex Grove 2 … 3-point shots: Schueler 2, Magnuson 1, Rambow 1, Johnson 4 … Rebound leaders: Rambow 7, Leuze 5 … Assist leaders: Leuze 8 … Steal leaders: Rambow 2