MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Men's basketball got back in the win collum with a hard-fought win over Wentworth Institute of Technology 79-78 at the Cruzin Classic on Friday, Dec. 20. The Knights sealed the win after two clutch free throws from Marshun Williams in the final seconds.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • Marshun Williams scored five of the Knights' first eight points along with a three pointer from Isaac Besh
    • Luke Ladwig and Gabe Trujillo both scored for the Knights minutes later to give Wartburg a 12-11 lead almost five minutes into the game
  • Two three pointers from Wentworth led the Leopards to an 8-1 run that put them in front 23-17 with 10:33 remaining in the half
  • After going down 28-21, Wartburg went on a 7-0 run to tie the game after a three pointer from Richie Rosenblum and baskets from Trujillo and Ladwig
    • Austin Bienemann scored the next three points to give the Knights a 31-28 lead with 2:07 to play in the first half
  • Besh converted two free throws and Ladwig scored another basket in the paint to give Wartburg a 35-34 lead at the break
• Second Half
  • The Knights came out of halftime and pushed the lead to 10 points in the first two and a half minutes of play after a 9-0 run
    • Trujillo scored in the paint, Besh converted a four-point play and Rosenblum knocked down a three to close the run
  • Wentworth was able to close the lead to five points, but three pointers from Besh and Rosenblum brought the lead back to 54-45 with 14:46 left in the game
  • The lead grew to 13 points, but Wentworth came storming back to tie the game at 66-66 with just over seven minutes remaining
  • Ladwig scored back-to-back baskets in the paint followed by another Besh three pointer to put Wartburg back in front 73-68
  • Wentworth made a corner three to tie the game up at 74-74, but Besh responded with his fifth triple of the game to put Wartburg back on top 77-74 with 1:01 remaining
  • The Leopards scored the next four points to retake the lead 78-77 with just three seconds remaining, but Williams drew a foul and buried two clutch free throws with just two seconds left
    • Wartburg held on to win 79-78

 
Top Performers

• Luke Ladwig
  • 21 points
  • Four rebounds
  • Three assists
• Isaac Besh
  • 18 points
  • Eight rebounds
  • Two assists
• Richie Rosenblum
  • 13 points
  • One rebound
  • One steal
• Marshun Williams
  • 12 points
  • Nine rebounds
  • Four assists
  • One steal

 
Notes/Streaks

• First win over Wentworth in program history
  • Now 1-1 all-time
• This game had 15 lead changes and eight ties
• 21 points is a season-high for Ladwig
  • 81.2% (9/11) marks a career-high in field goal percentage (min. five attempts)
• Five made threes tied a single-game high for Besh
• Wartburg shot 54.9% from the field and 42.9% from three as a team
• The Knights had a +12 advantage in rebounding today

 
Next Time Out
The Knights continue play at the Cruzin Classic on Saturday, Dec. 21 against Ursinus College at 1 p.m. central time.