WAVERLY, Iowa – Men's basketball got out in front early and held to win 79-75 over Simpson College on Saturday, Dec. 9. Head Coach Dick Peth earned his 400^th win at Wartburg today as the Knights move to 2-8 overall and 2-2 in American Rivers Conference play.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • The Knights jumped on the Storm early, getting out to a 15-0 lead
    • Eight points from Luke Ladwig and a three ball from Marshun Williams led the run
  • Trent Allard scored in the paint and then both Gabe Trujillo and Isaac Besh drilled three pointers to make the score 23-7 with 14:42 left in the first
  • Ethan Yungtum converted a three-point play to extend the Knights lead to 28-9 minutes later
  • Simpson went on a 11-5 run to cut the Wartburg lead to 33-20, but a Richie Rosenblum layup put the Knights back ahead 35-20 with under eight minutes remaining in the half
  • Besh connected from three for a third time to push the lead to 45-22 with 4:56 to play
  • Simpson closed the half on a 9-3 run to cut the lead to 48-31 at half
• Second Half
  • The Storm continued where they left off and cut the Wartburg lead to 52-40 four minutes into the second half
    • A Marshun Williams bucket stopped the run
  • Rosenblum connected from deep, but the Storm answered with back-to-back-to-back threes of its own to make the score 57-51, Wartburg, minutes later
  • Simpson continued its run and took its first lead of the game (59-58) with 10:25 remaining
    • Simpson made another three before Williams and Rosenblum stopped the run with a drive to the hoop and then a three ball
  • A Williams basket in the paint put Wartburg back on top 66-64 with seven minutes left to play
  • Four straight Williams points made the score 74-70, Wartburg, with under four minutes to play
  • The Knights held off Simpson for a 79-75 win

 
Top Performers

• Besh
  • 11 points
    • 4/10 FG
    • 3/7 3P
  • 10 rebounds
  • Four assists
• Williams
  • 20 points
    • 7/10 FG
    • 1/2 3P
    • 5/7 FT
  • Four rebounds
  • Three assists
• Ladwig
  • 14 points
    • 5/13 FG
    • 2/5 3P
    • 2/5 FT
  • Six rebounds
  • One block

 
Notes/Streaks

• Head Coach Dick Peth won his 400^th career game at Wartburg
  • 621-411 overall record in his career
    • 400-288 record at Wartburg
• Knights have won six of the last seven meetings
• First career double double at Wartburg for Besh
• Williams has scored 20+ three times this season
• Trujillo finished with two blocks and two steals
• Yungtum finished with two steals and one block
• Tied season high of 11 three pointers made

 
Next Time Out
The Knights are not in action again until Monday, Dec. 18 when they face Cornell College on the road at 6 p.m.