DUBUQUE, Iowa – Wartburg men's basketball fell to Loras 84-77 on Saturday, Feb. 18 to close the regular season. The Knights finish the regular season with an American Rivers Conference record of 8-8 and an overall mark of 11-14. Wartburg will travel to Loras again on Tuesday, Feb. 21 for an A-R-C Tournament Quarterfinal matchup.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • Drew Olson opened the game with a three pointer and then after each team traded baskets, Jack Molstead made a three to put the Knights ahead 8-7 two minutes into the game
  • Codey Hicks gave the Knights a 12-10 lead with 15:22 left in the half and then another three from Molsted and basket from Olson stretched the lead to 17-12
  • A Keagan John three put the Knights back up by six, but Declan Ciurlik hit three straight three pointers to put Loras ahead 23-22 with less then 10 minutes left in the half
  • Both Molstead and Marshun Williams put the Knights ahead with scores, but Loras answered each time to regain the lead
  • Williams scored the next four points which led to John giving the Knights a 33-32 lead with 3:15 to play
  • Loras hit a three to regain the lead and closed the half on a 7-3 run to take a 42-36 lead into halftime
• Second Half
  • After a Hicks layup to open the second half, Loras hit a three but was answered by a three from Molstead to make the score 45-41
  • The Knights got within two points after a Williams layup and then again after two Olson free throws, but Loras continued to hold its lead
  • The Duhawks lead grew to as many as seven but jumpers from Olson and Molstead stopped their run
  • After two free throws, Loras grew its lead to 70-58 with 8:27 left in the game
  • Both Austin Bienemann and Molstead scored two to cut into the lead, but Loras continued to answer to keep control and led 77-68 with under four minutes to play
  • The Duhawks held on to win 84-77 over the Knights

 
Top Performers

• Molstead
  • 22 points
    • 7/14 FG
    • 3/7 3P
    • 5/8 FT
  • Seven rebounds
  • Two assists
• Olson
  • 12 points
    • 4/10 FG
    • 1/4 3P
    • 3/3 FT
  • Five rebounds
  • Two assists
• John
  • 13 points
    • 3/5 FG
    • 1/2 3P
    • 6/8 FT
  • Three rebounds
  • Two assists
  • Two steals

 
Notes/Streaks

• Knights hold all-time series lead 57-43
• Loras will now host Wartburg in first round of A-R-C Tournament
• Wartburg shooting percentages:
  • 56% FG
  • 29.4% 3P
  • 64% FT
• Loras had two players with four made threes today
• 10^th 20 point game of the year for Molstead
• Wartburg outscored Loras 40-26 in the paint

 
Next Time Out
The Knights enter the A-R-C Tournament as the No. 5 seed and will have a rematch against Loras in Dubuque on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.