DUBUQUE, Iowa – Wartburg men's basketball trailed by as many as 19 in both halves, but battled back within one point in the second half to fall short 85-80 on the road against Loras in an American Rivers Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup. Jack Molstead set a new career-high in points with 29 and the Knights close the season 11-15 overall and 8-8 in A-R-C play.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • Loras jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first four minutes with the Knights only points coming from Marshun Williams free throws
  • Codey Hicks and Keagan John both made layups to cut into the lead, but Loras continued to hit threes to stay in front
  • A Molstead three pointer and Hicks layup brought the score to 16-11 with 14:14 left in the half but the Duhawks continued to stay hot from three
  • Another Hicks layup brought Wartburg within four and then Loras answered with a 9-2 run to put them ahead 31-20 with 8:45 left in the half
  • Drew Olson connected from deep to cut the lead under 10, the Duhawks answered quickly and continued to hold a lead
  • After another Olson three cut the lead to 10, Loras scored nine straight and led 51-32 before a Molstead jumper brought the lead back down to 17
  • After Hicks went 1/2 from the line, Loras took a 51-35 lead into halftime
    • Loras was 9/18 from three in the first half and 19/33 from the field in the half
• Second Half
  • The Knights started chipping away at the lead early in the second half with two free throws from Hicks and a bucket from Williams
  • The lead was down to 57-45 after two baskets from Molstead and a layup from Hicks with 15:42 left to play
  • Loras got the lead back to 19 points before three pointers from Austin Bienemann, Molstead and Cade Daugherty brought the Knights within seven points with 11:08 to go
  • A Williams three-point play made the score 68-65, Loras, with 8:56 left
  • A Molstead jumper brought the Knights within one, but Loras scored the next four and led 74-69 with 4:15 left to play
  • Trailing 76-69, Hicks found an open Bienemann for a three to bring the Knights back within four before a second chance Loras basket put the Duahwks back up 78-72
  • Molstead's fifth three of the night made the score 80-75 Loras, but the Duhawks continued to hold on with timely scoring
  • Loras held on to defeat Wartburg 85-80

 
Top Performers

• Molstead
  • 29 points
    • 11/17 FG
    • 5/8 3P
    • 2/2 FT
  • Four rebounds
  • Two assists
• Hicks
  • 15 points
    • 6/9 FG
    • 3/4 FT
  • Three rebounds
  • Two assists
  • Two blocks
• Williams
  • Nine points
    • 2/4 FG
    • 0/1 3P
    • 5/5 FT
  • Five rebounds

 
Notes/Streaks

• Molstead set a career high in points with 29
• Wartburg never led in this game and trailed by as many as 19
• Loras outrebounded the Knights 31-26, including 12-5 on the offensive boards
  • Second chance points: Loras 16, Wartburg two
• Olson led the Knights in rebounds and steals with six and two respectively
• Back-to-back seasons Loras has won quarterfinal matchups over Wartburg
  • Wartburg leads all-time series 57-44
• Knights shooting percentages:
  • 54.9% FG
  • 45.5% 3P
  • 77.8% FT
• Bienemann tied his career-high with eight points