PELLA, Iowa-- The Wartburg men's basketball team (19-9 overall) won the Iowa Conference Tournament Championship in the 89-85 win over Central (16-12) Saturday. The Knights receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will learn their opponent and game location during the NCAA selection show Monday morning.



This marks the first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2001. This was the second conference tournament title in program history. Wartburg was the No. 6 seed of the tournament and the win over No. 5 seeded Central made for the lowest seed in men's tournament history to win an IIAC title.



Central led the first five minutes of play with Wartburg tying it 9-9 at the 15:07 mark. The Knights led by four points with 12:54 remaining in the period, but the Dutch took back the advantage at led by 14 points, 43-29, with 1:41 on the clock. The teams ended the first half 43-34 in favor of Central. The Knights outscored the Dutch 55-42 in the second half, but the Orange and Black did lead the half until the last 2:29 minutes of the game when they took a 74-72 advantage. A made three-pointer by Central with :02 remaining made the contest 87-85, but a quick Dutch foul and two Wartburg free throws makes sealed the 89-85 victory.

The Knights made 14 three-point shots on the night, which broke the program's IIAC playoff game record of 13 three-pointers that the team set on Tuesday at Buena Vista. The Orange and Black led in all three shooting categories including field goals (.448 vs. .413), three's (.467 to .310) and free throws (.938 vs. .588).

Senior Jordan Cannon (Bollingbrook, Ill.) and junior Nate Woeste (Atkins) led the team with 14 points each. Senior Nick Webber (Peosta) followed with 13 and junior Sawyer Hermann (Monticello) had 12. Sophomore Jaran Sabus (Urbandale) and freshman Ryan Stulken (Walford) each added his career-high 11 points, including three three-point shots.

Sabus was one rebound short of a double-double with nine grabs. Woeste led the team in assists with four.

Monday's selection show can be accessed at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2017/02/27 and will begin at 11:30 a.m.