WAVERLY, Iowa – Men's basketball opened the Buzz Levick Tournament with a hard-fought 80-75 loss to the University of Concordia-Wisconsin in a back-and-forth battle on Friday, Nov. 14.
The Knights will continue tournament play tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Cornell College.
Game Summary
- First Half
- The Knights jumped on Concordia early with an 8-0 run led by two scores in the paint from Ethan Yungtum followed by scores from Luke Ladwig and Gabe Trujillo
- Following one free throw from the Falcons, Wartburg scored the next seven points after a three pointer from Ladwig and baskets in the paint from Austin Bienemann and Cael Schramm to give Wartburg a 15-1 lead after five minutes
- Over the next seven minutes Concordia-Wisconsin cut the lead to two points with a 15-3 run that made the score 18-16 with 8:35 left in the half
- The Falcons took their first lead of the game with just under 7:30 left in the half and pushed the lead to 23-20 with just under seven minutes to play in the half
- A Trujillo bucket put the Knights back ahead by one, but Concordia answered to tie the game at 25-25 with 5:18 left in the first half
- Wartburg was able to build a 34-28 lead after scores from Yungtum, Ladwig and Bienemann
- Lyle Olsen made two free throws in the final minute of the half, but the Falcons were able to close the deficit to 36-34 at the break
- Second Half
- Wartburg began the second half with buckets in the paint from Trujillo, Yungtum and Bienemann to open up the lead to 44-36 after almost two minutes of play
- Concordia cut the lead to one point minutes later, but the Knights responded with two more baskets in the paint from Ladwig and Trujillo to take a 50-45 lead with 15:04 remaining
- The Falcons tied the game up three minutes later and then took a two point lead before Brewer Eiklenborg finished a physical drive to the hoop for a three-point play to put the Knights back in front 57-56
- Bienemann added a three pointer the next possession to push the lead to 60-56 with 10:26 left in the game
- Each team traded free throws over the next few minutes, which led to ties at 62-62 and 64-64 with just over six and half minutes to play
- The Falcons nailed a big three-pointer with 3:00 minutes remaining to take a 75-71 lead, but the Knights continued to fight and cut the lead to 75-74 with 33 seconds left following free throws from Bienemann and Schramm
- The Knights had a shot to tie the game in the final seconds, but the three pointer didn't drop and Concordia held off Wartburg for a 80-75 win
Top Performers
Notes/Streaks
- Wartburg is now 2-1 all-time against Concordia (Wis.)
- Third-straight double double for Yungtum
- Averaging 18 PPG and 10.7 RPG to begin the season
- Wartburg has recorded at least 10 offensive rebounds in all three games to start the season
- Wartburg shot a season-best 79.2% from the free throw line today
- The Knights were held to a season-low two made three pointers
Next Time Out
The Knights will advance to tomorrow's consolation game against the Cornell Rams at 2 p.m.
