3AVERLY, Iowa – Powered by a season-high 33 points from senior guard Jaran Sabus (Urbandale), the Wartburg College Knights men's basketball team (5-1 overall, 1-0 A-R-C) defeated the Simpson College Storm (4-2, 0-1) 92-81 on Wednesday night to win their first American Rivers Conference matchup of the season.


 
The Knights took their first lead of the game at the 18:00 minute mark by scoring the game's first points when sophomore guard Max Smith Drahos (Cedar Rapids) hit a three-pointer off of a pass from senior guard Cam Kickbush (Reinbeck). The Orange and Black would then take that lead and maintain it throughout the first half, leading by as much as 20 on two separate occasions. Going into halftime, the Knights led the Storm 46-31.
 
The Knights continued to execute offensively through the first three-plus minutes of the second half, leading by as much as 22 with 16:36 left in regulation. However, the Storm began to knock down shots at an efficient rate and trimmed the Orange and Black's lead to as little as seven with 2:14 to go.
 
Layups by Kickbush and Sabus, coupled with two Sabus free throws would effectively end the Storm's second half surge as the Knights held on to win 92-81.
 
After scoring 33 points tonight, Sabus' career point total now stands at 1,160 and moves him into 21^st all-time in program history for scoring. His 12 free throw makes tonight brings his career total to 358 and moves him into 5^th place in program history for free throw makes. He sits five makes behind fourth place (363).
 
Trailing Sabus in scoring was Kickbush with 18 points on six of 14 shooting (42.9%). His two three-point makes tonight move him within one make of tying fifth all-time in program history for made three-pointers (178). Sabus finished with eight rebounds, Smith Drahos finished with six (matches a career-high) and Kickbush finished with five to lead the Knights. Kickbush's four assists fell one short of his career-high.
 
The Knights led the Storm in total field goal percentage, free throw makes (22-10) and rebounds (36-29). The Orange and Black tied the Storm in steals (5) and blocks (2). The Storm led the Knights in three-point percentage, free throw percentage and assists (18-16).
 
The Knights will return to the hardwood at Levick Arena on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. when they welcome Coe College (3-3, 0-1).