INDIANOLA, Iowa – Wartburg men's basketball continued a great start to the season on Saturday, Dec. 11 with a 77-59 win over Simpson College to move to 9-1 overall and 3-0 in American Rivers Conference play.
Both teams started the game with strong defensive possessions and neither team could pull away with a lead. The Storm had a 15-11 lead with 13 minutes left in the half and after five minutes of trading baskets
Drew Olson shot a three-pointer to put the Knights up 24-23.
With under two minutes left in the first a Simpson layup brought the score to 34-32 Wartburg, but the Orange & Black responded with a 7-2 run capped off by a
Davis Roquet layup to close the half up 41-34. Olson led all scorers with 12 points at the break.
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Jack Molstead jumper closed a run to give the Knights an 11-point lead just three minutes into the second half. The Knights defense played a tough second half and allowed the Knights to extend the lead all the way to 65-45 with nine minutes left to play.
Donovon Smith hit a three that would give the Orange & Black a 24-point lead, which was their largest lead of the night.
Wartburg scored the ball more efficiently than Simpson from the field, beyond the arc, and from the free throw line. The Knights had a 49.2% to 34.9% advantage in shooting from the field, a 40.9% to 25% margin in three-point shooting, and a 75% to 52.9% edge from the free throw line.
In addition to holding the Storm to low shooting marks, Wartburg's defense outrebounded Simpson 44-36 and recorded more blocks and assists.
Game Leaders
Olson led the Knights all over the stat sheet tonight with team-highs in scoring, assists, and steals. The senior guard scored 18 points from 70% shooting from the field and 66.7% shooting from beyond the arc. Olson also added three assists to help lead the offense to a balanced victory. On the defensive end, the Osage, Iowa native grabbed seven rebounds and recorded four of the teams nine total steals.
Marshun Williams led the Knights in rebounding today with eight total boards. The forward was also effective on the offensive side of the ball scoring eight points from 4/7 shooting and added one assist.
Next Time Out
The Orange & Black are off until Sunday, Dec. 19 when they travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. for two games in the Cruzin Classic. The Knights are set to face Roanoke College on the 19th and Baldwin Wallace University on the 20
th. Both games are slated for a 11 a.m. (ET).
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