WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg men's basketball team (6-5 overall, 1-0 IIAC) defeated Dubuque (10-2, 0-1) 69-58 Saturday in the Iowa Conference opener.

Senior Mitchell Murphy (Cresco) led all scorers with his career-high 22 points.

Three players, juniors Eddie Diemer (Cedar Falls), Tanner Kramer (Hayfield, Minn.) and Thomas Perkins (Sun Valley, Nev.) all finished with eight points.

Perkins recorded a 8-0 run individually in the first half.

Classmate Drew Crawford (Marion) and sophomore Clay Cook (West Branch) led the team on the glass as each finished with seven rebounds.

The Knights took the commanding 46-32 lead at halftime and were able to hold off the Spartans' strong second-half effort.

Dubuque was able to whittle the margin to five points with 1:57 remaining, but the Orange and Black made eight successive free throws to build their lead to 13 with 1:22 to go.

Wartburg held the advantages in field goal percentage (.442 vs. .373), three-point field goal percentage (.357 vs. .190) and from the free throw line (.783 vs. .500).

The Knights return to action Wednesday when they host Central at 8 p.m.