CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -  Three Knights combined for 42 points as Wartburg (12-6 overall, 6-3 A-R-C) defeated the Coe College Kohawks (10-8, 4-5) 69-54 on Monday night.
 
Senior guard Jaran Sabus (Urbandale) led the game in scoring with 17 points, while senior center Josh Gehling (Dyersville) scored 14 points and sophomore guard Max Smith Drahos (Cedar Rapids) added in 11 points. Gehling led all rebounders with eight, while freshman Aidan Weber (Phoenix, Ariz.) finished second on the team with six rebounds.
 
Josh Schmitt scored a team-high 15 points for the Kohawks, while Adam McDermott added in 11 points. Nolan Timp and Calvin Winker tied for the team-high in rebounds at six apiece.
 
The Knights used an early 16-5 run in the game's first five minutes to set the offensive tone for tonight's contest. Two made free throw shots by junior guard Tyler Zumbach (Anamosa) gave the Orange and Black their biggest lead of the first half (18) with 1:36 left to play. Wartburg would go into the break up 38-23, powered by Gehling's 14 first-half points on seven for seven shooting from the field.
 
Coe managed to trim the Knights' lead to nine (43-34) after Tommy Hook connected on back-to-back free throws with 14:51 left in regulation. An ensuing 15-4 run by the Knights over the next six minutes would give Wartburg its largest lead of the game at 20 points (58-38). The lead proved to be too much to overcome as the Knights claimed the 69-54 victory, winning their third-straight game.
 
Wartburg lead Coe in all shooting statistical categories, rebounds (42-35), assists (12-6) and steals (5-3).
 
The Orange and Black will return to action this Wednesday, Jan. 23, where they will face Loras College at home with tipoff set for 8 p.m.