WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg men's basketball is set to continue its three game American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) homestand on Wednesday, Jan. 12 as they are set to matchup with Coe College at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 12 – 7:30 p.m. –
Waverly, Iowa –
Levick Arena
Wartburg Knights (12-2, 5-0 A-R-C) vs
Coe College
(11-4, 3-3 A-R-C)
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In the Rankings
The Knights are receiving 11 votes in the current d3hoops.com top-25 poll, which is the eighth most votes being received. Wartburg's two losses this season came against currently ranked teams with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse being No. 11 and Roanoke coming in at No. 15. The Orange & Black were highly competitive in both games and lost by a combined total of only nine points between the two.
Weekly Honors
Drew Olson was named A-R-C Male Athlete of the Week and Men's Basketball Player of the Week after a 2-0 week of career performances for the senior guard. Olson tied his career high in an 80-75 win over Central College and followed it by tying his own school record for steals in a game, with eight, in an 81-65 win over Nebraska Wesleyan University. The honors mark the first of Olson's career.
Last Time Out
Wartburg moved to 12-2 overall and 5-0 in A-R-C play after defeating Nebraska Wesleyan 81-65 in Levick Arena. The Orange & Black were led by
Marshun Williams' first double-double and Olson's career day defensively.
After a back-and-forth start, the Knights held a three-point lead over the Prairie Wolves with 7:25 left in the half. Wartburg went on to outscore NWU 30-8 to close the half to take a 49-24 lead into the break. The Knights defense forced 11 turnovers in the first half. The three-ball was an important factor in the run, as NWU shot 0-10 in the first half while Wartburg shot 6-17. Olson had 16 points to lead all scorers at the break.
Wartburg continued its dominance early in the second half, ballooning the lead out to 30 points at its highest. NWU started to hit shots and continued to fight throughout the second half, but Wartburg had an answer for every Prairie Wolves run. Nebraska Wesleyan outscored the Knights 41-32 in the second half, but it was not enough to keep the Prairie Wolves in the game.
It was a balanced attack for the Orange & Black as Olson, Williams,
Jack Molstead, and
Keagan John all scored in double figures. Wartburg's defense was able to hold Peter Lash, who entered the contest averaging 17.4 points per game, to just nine points. The Knights outshot NWU from the field 41.9% to 39.3% and 31% to 25% from beyond the arc. The Knights turned defense into offense, forcing 18 total turnovers and turning those into 27 points the other way.
Season Leaders
Olson leads the Knights in scoring, steals, and rebounding so far this season. The senior is averaging 17.1 points per game from 55.3% shooting from the field and a 48.6% mark from three, while adding 4.9 assists. Olson's 3.7 steals per game is leading the A-R-C and ranks fourth throughout all of Division III players this season. The Osage, Iowa native is also grabbing an average of 6.1 rebounds per game, which is tied for seventh most in the conference.
Molstead is the assists leader for Wartburg through 14 games, averaging 5.4 assists per game. The 5.4 assists are just 0.1 assist back from the A-R-C leader, who is averaging 5.5 assists through 15 games played. The Charles City, Iowa native is also averaging 13.3 points per game as the second leading scorer for the Knights. Molstead is active on the boards as well, grabbing an average of 4.5 per game.
Coe College
The Kohawks have lost their last two games but are 3-2 in their last five games and enter the contest with an 11-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in A-R-C play. Coe was defeated on the road by Buena Vista 80-73 in its last time out.
Coe is averaging 77 points scored per game while allowing only 69 points, which both rank fourth in the A-R-C. Wartburg enters the contest with the second-ranked offense in the conference, averaging 80.1 points scored per game, but the Knights defense ranks fifth in points allowed with 70.4 points per game. Both defenses are holding opponents to low field goal percentage this season, with Wartburg leading the A-R-C by holding teams to 40.6% shooting and Coe tied for second with a mark of 42.5%.
The Kohawks are led by Jarad Kruse, who is currently leading the conference in scoring with 17.9 points per game. Kruse is shooting 54.2% from the field and leads Coe in rebounding and blocks as well scoring this season. The senior forward's average of seven rebounds per game is tied for second most in the A-R-C this season.
Series History
The first matchup between these schools came during the 1954-55 season where Coe College came away with the first win. Wednesday's matchup will be the 74
th all-time meeting and Wartburg leads the series 43-30. The Kohawks have won the last four matchups with the Knights' last win coming at Coe during the 2019-19 season.
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