WAVERLY, Iowa – Senior guard
Cam Kickbush (Reinbeck) tied a career-high with 27 points en route to joining the 1,000 career point club as Wartburg (13-6 overall, 7-3 A-R-C) defeated No. 22 Loras (15-4, 7-3) 88-83 on Wednesday evening. Kickbush becomes the 34
th member of the 1,000 career point club for the Knights.
Sophomore guard
Max Smith Drahos (Cedar Rapids) finished with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals, while senior center
Josh Gehling (Dyersville) added in 13 points on five of six shooting (83.3% FG). Junior guard
Camry Moore (Waverly) continued his recent impressive scoring stretch by adding in 11 points on a career-best five for five shooting (1.000%). Senior guard
Jaran Sabus (Urbandale) led the team in rebounding with nine, in addition to finishing with eight points.
The Orange and Black trailed 8-6 in the first three minutes of the contest before going on a 9-0 run that was powered from baskets by Gehling, Kickbush, Smith Drahos and Sabus to take a15-8 lead at the 14:59 mark. The Knights would go on to lead by as much as 11 (32-21) with 7:40 to play in the first half, before suffering a 9-0 Duhawks' run to trim the lead to 32-30 with 6:10 left in the first. The two teams kept the score close over the next two minutes, before freshman Aidan Weber (Phoenix, Ariz.) nailed a three-pointer to give the Knights a three-point lead (45-42) going into the half.
Loras attempted to regain its lead throughout the second half, trimming the Orange and Black's lead to as little as one point multiple times throughout the half, but Kickbushs' 11 second half points coupled with Smith Drahos' 10 second half points helped seal the 88-83 victory for Wartburg.
Wartburg led the Duhawks in all shooting statistical categories and rebounds (39-21). Loras led the Knights in assists (13-12) and steals (7-4). Wartburg's bench outscored Loras' 17-11, while the Duhakws led in fast break points (29-17). Each team recorded two blocks.
The Knights will return to the hardwood this Saturday, Jan. 26, when they welcome Central (7-11, 4-5) with tipoff set for 4 p.m.
