DUBUQUE, Iowa - The #1 seed University of Dubuque men's basketball team used a big second half to capture a victory in Thursday's semifinal match-up with their cross-town rival, #5 seed Loras College Duhawks 78-58 inside a crowded Stoltz Sports Center. The Spartans will face #2 seed Buena Vista University on Saturday for the conference tournament championship in what will be a rematch of last years championship game. 

As anticipated, Stoltz Sports center was a packed house as fans were eager to see these two teams go at it for a third time this season, but now for a chance to play in the A-R-C title game. The start of tonight's game would be very unusual as the Spartans would receive a Class A technical foul due to unforeseen issues with the shot clock in pregame warmups. The Duhawks would shoot a technical free throw and would be successful to lead 1-0 before the tip-off took place. With no shot clock, the game announcer would count down the time for the players throughout the game. The Spartans would win the opening tip-off and Peter Ragen scored a 3-pointer to take the early 3-1 lead. The Duhawks managed to lead 17-12 before the Spartans used a 10-0 run capped off by a Hunter Snyder 3-pointer to take a 22-17 lead with 9:19 remaining in the first half. The Duhawks inched closer, but the Spartans held a 35-32 halftime lead. 

Heading into the 2nd half, the energy was building inside Stoltz as both student sections were fired up for their teams. The Spartans exited the locker room on a mission and started with a 19-2 run to build their lead to 54-34. The stingy second half defense by the Spartans showed in the first 12 minutes of the 2nd half as the held the Duhawks to only 10 points. The Spartans would get their biggest lead of the game at the 5:51 mark leading by 26 and the Spartans would close out the Duhawks convincingly to move on to Saturday's championship game. 

Peter Ragen and Jaylin McCants led the Spartans tonight in scoring with 16 points each. They also led the team in rebounds with eight and seven rebounds respectively. As a team the Spartans knocked down 12 3-pointers and shot 30-62 (48.4%) from the floor. The Spartans out rebounded the Duhawks by 12 and won second chance points 17-6. 

UP NEXT
The Spartans will now rematch with #2 seed Buena Vista University Beavers in the A-R-C tournament championship game on Saturday, February 26 on their home court for a chance at an automatic bid into the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championships. Time has yet to be determined.