WILLMAR -- Willmar won its second straight game at home Tuesday night and again it was junior guard Kyle Townswick providing the fireworks.
Townswick scored 36 points, 26 in the second half, as the Cardinals whipped Brainerd 81-71 in a Central Lakes Conference game.
It was Willmar's fifth straight win over the Warriors over three seasons and evened its conference mark at 2-2.
Townwick made four 3-pointers in the second half, a two-point basket and all nine of his chances at the free throw line.
Behind him, scoring was balanced with Matt Roisum at 12 points, Tyler Horning 10 and Ryan Hagemeyer and Matt Seehusen eight apiece.
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Junior guard Landon Stanfield led Brainerd with 19 points.
"Kyle was shaking free, catching the pass and shooting, even though Brainerd was doing all it could to slow him down," said coach Steve Grove. "The guys did a good job of setting screens and making the pass."
The Cardinals led most of the first half. Willmar tried to be deliberate, while Brainerd couldn't wait to get off a shot.
In the half's fading minutes, Brainerd turned a 26-23 Willmar lead into a 30-26 lead. Just as suddenly Willmar came to life again. Horning made a three-point play out of a steal and lay-up and Townswick fired in another trey.
At halftime, Willmar led 35-34.
"We just tried to keep in front of them defensively the second half," said Grove.
Townswick, who scored 26 in Saturday's win over Litchfield, came in averaging just over 22 points per game.
Willmar 81, Brainerd 71
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Brainerd (1-3, 1-3) 34 37-- 71
Willmar (2-2, 3-2) 35 46-- 81
BRAINERD - 29-54 FG (1-9 3 pt); 12-18 FT; 23 rebounds; 26 fouls ... Scoring: John Haberman 3, Chris Comstock 4, Riley Cullinane 4, Landon Stanfield 19, corey Hermansonn 2, Mike Mahlum 12, CJ Peeters 8, Brett Coultier 9 ... 3-point shots: Peeters ... Rebound leader: not available
WILLMAR - 23-32 FG (9-16 3-pt); 30-37 FT; 23 rebounds; 14 fouls ... Scoring: Kyle Townswick 36, Matt Seehusen 8, Tyler Horning 10, Michael Dunham 2, Matt Roisum 12, Ryan Hagemeyer 8, Luke Buer 4, Kent Underland 2 ... 3-point shots: Townswick 7, Seehusen 1, Hagemeyer 1 ... Rebound leader: Van Hauen 5, Dunham 2, Roisum 3, Seehusen 3, Townswick, 3 ... Assist leader: Seehusen 4, Roisum 2, Hagemeyer 2... Steal leader: Horning 2
