MIAMI GARDENS, FLA. – Wartburg men's basketball survived a late push to secure a 73-71 victory over Baldwin Wallace University at the Cruzin Classic on Monday, Dec. 20 to move to 10-2 overall and remain 3-0 in American Rivers Conference play.
Game Summary
Wartburg got down early from a 7-0 run to start the game from Baldwin Wallace but would chip away at the lead until the Knights took a 17-16 lead with 13 minutes left in the half. After trading baskets, the Orange & Black started to pull away with a lead behind 10 first half points from
Jack Molstead. With under a minute left in the half
Marshun Williams made a layup to make the score 44-31, but late free throws for the Yellow Jackets made the score 44-33 at half.
The Knights started the second half by extending the lead to 13 points but five minutes into the half the lead had shrunk to six thanks to multiple three-pointers. Offense from
Codey Hicks and Molstead kept the Orange & Black in front, but the Yellow Jackets would not go away easily and brought the game within one point with 3:30 to play. Free throws from
Drew Olson and Molstead closed the game out and the full court game-winning attempt was no good for Baldwin Wallace to make the final score 73-71.
Game Leaders
Both Olson and Hicks recorded their first double-doubles of the season to help lead the Knights to the win. Olson scored 15 points from 44% shooting from the field and a perfect seven of seven from the free throw line along with 11 rebounds. The senior guard also added team-highs in assists and steals with three and two. Hicks scored 15 points from 75% shooting from the field. The forward also led the team in rebounds with 13 and blocks with three.
Molstead ended as the leading scorer for the Orange & Black with 16 points. The Charles City, Iowa native shot 36% from the field and hit two threes in the contest. The junior guard rounded out the stat sheet with four rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
As a team the Knights shot 44.8% from the field and 20% from beyond the arc while allowing the Yellow Jackets to shoot 39.1% from the field and 32.4% from three. Wartburg dominated points in the paint today with a 42-26 advantage. The Orange & Black also held an edge in rebounding 47-33.
Next Time Out
Men's basketball will be in action again on Wednesday, Dec. 29 for an exhibition game against the University of Northern Iowa. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Knights will continue the regular season on Wednesday, Jan. 5 when they travel to Pella, Iowa for an A-R-C matchup against Central College.
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