WAVERLY, Iowa – Men's basketball (4-1) mounted a 19-point second half comeback to defeat Grinnell College (2-2) 129-116 inside a lively Levick Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
 
The Knights were led by double double performances from both Ethan Yungtum and Cael Schramm to go along with seven Knights in double-digit scoring.
 
Game Summary

• First Half
  • The scoring came early and often as a three pointer from Austin Bienemann made the score 13-11, Grinnell in front, just three minutes into the game
  • Back-to-back scores from Ethan Yungtum tied the game at 15-15 with 15:03 left in the half
  • Six straight points from Luke Ladwig gave Wartburg a 25-23 lead, but not even a minute of game time later the Pioneers regained the lead 29-24
  • Grinnell's lead grew to 34-27 with 10:30 left in the first half, but a 5-0 run led by baskets from Cael Schramm and Yungtum
  • Minutes later, Four straight makes at the free throw line for Giovanni St. Onge brought the Knights in front 42-40
  • Bienemann made two free throws and then threw down a dunk the next possession to make the score 48-44 with 5:31 left in the first
  • Both Gabe Trujillo and Schramm scored to push the Wartburg lead to five, but Grinnell responded with a 9-0 run to take a 63-59 lead before halftime
  • Yungtum scored four-straight to tie it up, but the Pioneers got the final score of the half to take a 65-63 into halftime
• Second Half
  • It was all Grinnell to start the second half as the Pioneers outscored Wartburg 20-3 in the first three and a half minutes of the second half
    • The Knights started to chip away at the lead the next few possessions with a dunk from Schramm and a three from St. Onge
  • Trailing 86-71, Wartburg went on a 13-0 run to close the Pioneers lead to 86-84 with 12:29 left to play
    • The run was highlighted by eight points scored by Yungtum and a high-flying dunk from Bienemann
  • Scores from Drake Wemark and Ladwig helped Wartburg continue to chip away at the lead until Schramm threw down a dunk to give Wartubrg a 95-94 lead with 9:37 remaining
  • After four ties over the next two minutes, the Knights clung to a 107-103 lead following free throws from Yungtum and a driving layup from Ladwig
  • After the Pioneers cut the lead to three, Wartburg went on a 6-0 run to make the score 113-104 with just over five minutes left in the game
  • Wartburg's lead never got below seven points in the final minutes as scores from Wemark, Bienemann, Ladwig, Schramm and Yungtum closed out a 129-116 win

 
Top Performers

• Ethan Yungtum
  • 36 points (14/20 FG)
  • 14 rebounds
  • Two assists
  • One steal
• Austin Bienemann
  • 19 points
  • Seven rebounds
  • Five steals
  • Four assists
  • Three blocks
• Cael Schramm
  • 22 points (10/12 FG)
  • 10 rebounds (five offensive)
  • One assist

 
Notes/Streaks

• The Knights now lead the all-time series 17-9
  • Wartburg has won seven of the last eight matchups
  • The Knights are 6-5 at home against Grinnell
• Career highs in points for Yungtum (36), Schramm (22) and St. Onge (10)
• Yungtum has recorded a double double in all five games this season
• Third double double of the season for Schramm
• 129 is the most points scored for the Knights this season
  • Most points scored in a game since 2016-17 (126 vs Grinnell)
• Both Trujillo and Wemark recorded seven assists each to lead the Knights
• Back-to-back games with eight combined blocks/steals for Bienemann
  • Five steals/three blocks today
• Wartburg had a 63-40 advantage in rebounding

 
Next Time Out
The Knights will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 against Principia College at home beginning at 5:30 p.m.