ST. PAUL, Minn. — Wartburg (1-1) defeated Macalester (0-1) 98-82 for its first win of the 2026-27 season on Saturday at the Leonard Center. The Knights finished with 48 rebounds to Macalester's 24, including 19 offensive boards, and held a 21-2 advantage in second-chance points.
Austin Bienemann and
Ethan Yungtum combined for 46 points, including a second-straight double-double from Yungtum.
Reed Pfaltzgraff and
Lyle Olsen added 14 and 13 points respectively, which both marked career-bests at Wartburg.
How It Happened
First Half
Maddox Coppola scored off a
Lyle Olsen assist and
Ethan Yungtum added a 3-pointer off an assist from Coppola as the Knights started ahead 5-0, before Macalester worked back within 9-8. The Orange and Black rebuilt the margin with Yungtum and
Cael Schramm scoring inside, including second-chance baskets, and Olsen added a jumper as the Knights moved ahead 19-10; Jamal Randle hit three 3-pointers over the next stretch to help Macalester close to 23-19. The Orange and Black created separation again with free throws and interior finishes, including
Austin Bienemann's dunk off an Olsen assist at 9:07,
Drew Britson's offensive-rebound layup and four made free throws at 8:32 that made it 35-25. Macalester stayed in range behind 3-pointers from Logan Davis, Joaquin Aguillon and Owen Walther, but the Knights added late baskets from Bienemann and free throws from Olsen to lead 56-47 at halftime.
Second Half
The Knights carried their advantage into the second half as
Austin Bienemann hit two free throws, Yungtum converted a layup and free throw, and the Orange and Black led 61-54 after a Logan Davis layup for Macalester. Bienemann made 3-pointers at 16:20 and 14:58 around a
Reed Pfaltzgraff 3-pointer, with Owen Walther answering once from deep for Macalester, and the Knights pushed the score to 70-57 before
Devon Hanavan's steal and layup made it 72-57. Macalester worked back with 3-pointers from Kaden Holdbrook and Jamal Randle to get to 75-65, but the Orange and Black kept scoring at the line and later used a Pfaltzgraff 3-pointer and an Olsen layup to stay ahead 86-72. Bienemann added two late layups and a dunk, Pfaltzgraff scored again in the final two minutes, and the Knights finished off a 98-82 win.
Top Performers
Austin Bienemann
- 26 points
- 10 field goals made
- 5 rebounds
Ethan Yungtum
- 20 points; at least 20 points in two consecutive games
- 14 rebounds; at least 14 rebounds in two consecutive games
- 8 offensive rebounds
- 7 free throws made
Lyle Olsen
- 13 points
- 6/6 free throws made
- 7 rebounds
- 4 assists
Reed Pfaltzgraff
- 14 points
- 2/2 3-pointers made
- 3 rebounds
Devon Hanavan
- 2 steals
- 1 block
- 4 points
Notes/Streaks
- Wartburg is now 8-2 all-time against Macalester
- Have now won three-straight matchups
- Career-highs in points, rebounds and assists for Olsen
- Career-high in points for Pfaltzgraff (at Wartburg)
- 20th career double-double for Yungtum
- 12th career 20-point performance for Bienemann
- First career points at Wartburg for Mick Hoffman, Maddox Coppola and Devon Hanavan
Up Next
Up next, the Knights host Cornell College on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Levick Arena in Waverly, Iowa.
