WAVERLY, Iowa -- The Wartburg College men's basketball team (11-5 overall, 3-4 IIAC) was defeated by Central College (9-6, 3-3) on Saturday 94-90.

The game began with Wartburg taking a 14-6 lead in the first six minutes of play. Central chipped away, connecting 11-20 three-point shots in the first half, and held the lead by as many as 13 points. The half ended with a 49-38 Dutch advantage.

During the second half, Central added to their lead and were up by 19 points with 16:20 remaining. The Knights were able to get within two points with 9:56 left to play, but the Dutch fought back to bring the lead up to 13 points with five minutes on clock. Wartburg answered and again and came within two points at the :14 mark, but Central came out victorious by a four-point margin.




Senior Nick Webber (Peosta) and junior Saywer Herman (Monticello) scored a team-high 17 points each. Senior Jordan Cannon (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and sophomore Jaran Sabus (Urbandale) both added 15. Junior Nate Woeste (Atkins) was the only other Knight to score double digits, tallying 11 on the night.

Wartburg was 13-25 from three-point range and six different Knights scored at least one three-pointer. Those players included Herman (5), Cannon (3), sophomore Cam Kickbush (Reinbeck) (2), and Woeste, Webber and senior Lenart Kalan (Skofja Loka, Slovenia) all made one from behind the arc.

Sabus grabbed nine rebounds, the most of any player on either squad, and made two blocks. Cannon recorded five assists.

The Orange and Black return to action at Luther on Wednesday at 8 p.m.