WAVERLY, IOWA – Wartburg men's basketball fell to Central College 73-72 at home on Wednesday, Feb. 9 after a late push came up short. The Knights are now 16-5 overall and 9-4 in American Rivers Conference play.
Game Summary
After misses from deep from both teams, Central got the scoring started after a Joshua Van Gorp layup broke the scoreless start. Central guard Jalen Wilmington had five quick points for the Dutch to make the score 11-8 with just over 14 minutes left in the half.
Over the next five minutes the Knights would bring the game within one-point multiple times, but timely shooting from Central kept them in front the whole half. With just under four minutes left in the half the Dutch stretched the lead to 13-points, which was the largest of the game. The Knight's closed the half on a 10-2 run that was capped off by
Codey Hicks layup coming off a
Drew Olson assist.
The score was 40-35 with Central in front at halftime. The Dutch outshot the Orange & Black in the first half from both the field (48.5%-37.5%) and three-point range (42.9%-27.3%).
The second half got started much like the first half with both defenses playing physical. Hicks sparked the offense in the second half with seven straight points for the Knights after a dunk with the foul brought the score to 41-45 with 16:30 to play.
After a two and a half minute scoring drought,
Jack Molstead hit a pull-up jumper to make it 43-45. Both teams hit threes on their next posesion and the lead stayed at two, until
Marshun Williams made a basket with the foul to give the Orange & Black their first lead with 13:02 remaining.
The game was tied 52 all with 10 minutes to play, but Van Gorp had a big second half after scoring just two points in the first half. With 5:25 to play, Van Gorp put his team up 60-55 after his 10
th point of the second half. A Kegan John three-ball brought the game within three with under three minutes to play, but the Dutch continued to make timely shots to stay in front. The Knights caused turnovers and battled until the end, but the late push fell just short.
Central finished the game with an advantage in field goal shooting 47.5% to 39.5% and a 42.9% to 26.9% edge from beyond the arc. Wartburg controlled the offensive glass 19-8 but were only able to turn those rebounds into 16 second chance points.
Game Leaders
Both Hicks and Olson scored 17 points to lead the Knights offensively. Hicks shot 6/8 from the field for a field goal percentage of 75% and went 55% from the free throw line. The junior also tied for a team high in rebounds tonight with seven. Hicks was active on both ends of the floor with four offensive rebounds and two blocked shots recorded. Olson finished 10 of 11 from the free throw line and hit one three-pointer tonight. The Osage, Iowa native led the team in assists with five and tallied three steals on the defensive end.
Molstead tied with Hicks for most rebounds in the contest with seven. The junior guard added nine points and three assists to help lead Wartburg's offense.
John recorded a team-high four steals tonight and that now marks nine total steals in his last two games.
Williams provided a spark off the bench tonight with his offense and physicality. The sophomore forward scored 12 points from 57.1% shooting from the field and 50% from three. Williams was active on the offensive glass with four rebounds and finished the contest with five total boards.
Next Time Out
The Orange & Black are in action next against on Saturday, Feb. 12 on the road against Buena Vista University. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in Storm Lake, Iowa.
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