CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – In the final regular season game on the road, Wartburg men's basketball was defeated 91-75 inside Moray L. Edy Fieldhouse. This marks the third-straight loss for the Orange & Black, pushing their overall record to 16-8 and 9-7 in American Rivers Conference play.
Game Summary
After a scoreless first minute of play, the Knights struck first with a
Jack Molstead three that led to a 7-2 run to start the game. Coe responded with a three from Jacob Robertson to bring the game within two points five minutes into the game. After a
Marshun Williams three-point play,
Donovon Smith hit a three to make the score 15-7 with just over 12 minutes to play.
A three-ball from
Keagan John off a great pass from Williams led to a full timeout with 10:12 left in the half with the score 20-11 Wartburg in front. After trailing 25-12, Coe went on a 10-0 run to make the score 25-22 with just under seven minutes to play. The Kohawks would take the lead with 5:36 left in the half after a Jared Kruse basket. John answered with a jumper, but Coe hit back-to-back threes on their next two positions to take a 32-27 lead. The Knights stayed down five and went into halftime down 36-31.
Wartburg struggled from the field in the first half, shooting 39.4% from the field compared to Coe's 48.4%. The Knights ha a slight advantage on the glass 19-18 and led in points in the paint 20-18. John led the offense in the first with nine points from 80% shooting from the field.
After trading baskets to begin the second half, the Kowhawks would extend the lead to double-digit points with 16:04 to play making the score 48-37. Coe held a 10+ point lead for the next three minutes until free throws from smith brought them within nine points. The Kohawks continued to answer anytime the Knights could chip away at the lead and extended the lea to 15 points multiple times in the second half.
Drew Olson and Williams combined for three three-pointers in consecutive possessions, but it only brought the lead down to 80-69 because Coe's Greg Hall hit back-to-back from beyond the arc in-between Wartburg threes. Despite late shots from the Orange & Black, Coe was able to hold on for a 91-75 win.
Wartburg finished with more three's made and a better percentage from deep (42.1%-31.8%), but Coe was more efficient from the field the whole game as they finished with a 52.2% to 41.1% advantage. Coe had less turnovers than Wartburg and turned those turnovers into 28 points on the other end.
Game Leaders
The Knights finished with four players in double-digit scoring figures but were led by Olson and Williams with 16 and 14 points respectively.
Olson finished the contest with a field goal percentage of 41.7% and went 75% from downtown. The senior guard tied with Molstead for a team-high four assists, and he added five rebounds. The Osage, Iowa native grabbed two steals for the Knights defensively.
Williams scored 14 off the bench tonight from an efficient 5/7 from the field and 1/1 from three. The sophomore forward recorded three rebounds and two steals defensively for Wartburg. Williams was also a perfect three for three from the free throw line.
Codey Hicks led the team in rebounding today with three offensive and four defensive rebounds for a total of seven. Hicks scored 11 points from 57.1% shooting from the field and the junior center also went 3/4 from the free throw line.
John led the Knights in steals in the contest with three and added 11 points offensively. The New Hampton, Iowa native also shot 5/7 from the field and finished with a 50% mark from three-point range.
Next Time Out
Wartburg will close the regular season with a Senior Night matchup against Loras College on Saturday, Feb. 19. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. inside Levick Arena following the women's game.
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