DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's basketball team could not overcome a second half comeback by the Wartburg College Knights on Wednesday evening after leading by eight points at the half. The Spartans snap a three game winning streak and currently sit with a record of 13-6 overall and 6-4 in the A-R-C. 

Tonight the Spartans were without two key contributors on the floor in Jaylin McCants and Bryce Prochaska, but the Spartans were able to maintain the lead through most of the first half. The Spartans reached a lead as much 33-19 before leading by eight points at the half. Keegan Zimmerman had the hot hand in the first 20 minutes with nearly half of the Spartans points with 17. 

Out of the locker room, Sam Kilburg would be the Spartan to step up scoring 12 of his 18 points in the final half. Zimmerman would get in foul trouble and ultimately foul out ending his night with 20 points on 7-10 (70%) shooting from the floor and 4-6 (66.67%) from beyond the arc. Along with 18 points, Kilburg led the Spartans with eight rebounds and seven assists. 

At time in the second half, it seemed like the Knights would not miss. Jack Molstead for the Knights would go on a personal 11-0 run in the half taking the Knights from down five to up by two with 9:23 left in the game. Wartburg would then be able to maintain their lead the rest of the way sealed with late free throws in the final minute. 

Coach Sieverding on the loss tonight: "I thought our guys battled and played hard all night. We just couldn't get enough stops in the second half and we had some costly turnovers."

The Spartans shot 25-50 (50%) from the floor and 9-30 (30%) from beyond the arc. The Spartans struggled at the line going 4-11 (36.4%). Seven of the nine Spartans that saw the floor were in the scoring column.

Up Next
The Spartans will travel to Lincoln, Neb. on Saturday, January 28 when they take on the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairiewolves in what will be a pivotal game in the A-R-C. The Prairiewolves sit second in the standings at 7-3 whereas the Spartans sit fourth at 6-4.