WAVERLY, Iowa – Led by
Jack Molstead, Wartburg men's basketball defeated Luther College 73-57 on Wednesday, Dec. 1 inside Levick Arena to move to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in American Rivers Conference play.
Summary
Wartburg jumped on Luther early, getting out to a 12-0 start to the game behind 10 quick points from Molstead. The Norse answered with three-pointers that led to an 18-6 run of their own to tie the game at 18 all with 7:26 left in the first half. The Knights were able to pull away to a five-point lead with under four minutes left in the half and held the lead the rest of the half. A
Keagan John three-ball closed the half, and the Orange & Black extended the lead to 15 heading to the break.
The Knights controlled the pace early in the second half and grew the lead to a game-high 19 points with just over 16 minutes left in the game. Luther would not go away quietly as its timely three-point shooting brought the Norse back in the game. The Norse hit threes on back-to-back possessions to cut Wartburg's lead to eight points with 12 minutes left.
Wartburg continued to rebuild the lead, but a late 7-0 Luther run brought the game back within seven points. With 6 minutes to play, Molstead hit back-to-back threes the following possessions and then hit two late free throws to help seal the victory.
Wartburg shot 52.8% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc as a team today, while holding Luther's offense to 36.8% from the field and 36.7% from three. Luther attempted over double the three-pointers of Wartburg with 30 to 12. The Orange & Black also held a slight edge in rebounding, grabbing 37 compared to Luther's 33.
Game Leaders
Molstead was the high-point man in tonight's contest with a career high 27 points. The Charles City, Iowa native was unstoppable on the offensive end, shooting 8/12 (75%) from the field and 5/6 (83.3%) from three-point range. Molstead was also 6/8 from the free throw line and recorded two assists in the victory. On the defensive end, the junior guard added four boards and one steal in the victory.
The offense was facilitated through both
Drew Olson and John, who recorded six and five assists respectively in tonight's contest. Olson filled the stat sheet up tonight with 16 points, five rebounds, and four steals to go along with the game-high in assists. John did a little of everything for the Knights as well, with nine points, three boards, and two steals.
Marshun Williams came off the bench and led Wartburg in rebounds tonight with seven. Five of those rebounds came on the defensive side and Williams added a block as well. The forward finished the game with three points.
Next Time Out
The Knights are in action again this week on Saturday, Dec. 1 against Bethany Lutheran College at 2 p.m. in Mankato, Minn.
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