DUBUQUE, Iowa - A Senior Day performance for the ages today as Sam Kilburg scored a career-high 32 points and doing so surpassed 1,000 career points to become the 26th Spartan to achieve this feat in their career. The Spartans were able to get out to a sizzling start shooting the ball and cruised in the second half to defeat the Central College Dutch 96-64 in a massive win to help the Spartans in the conference standings and in their quest to improve their hopes for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament (If they do not win the A-R-C AQ Tournament). 

Coming into the matchup between the Spartans and Dutch were big implications for both teams as we head into the final stretch of the regular season. The Spartans were able to answer the bell in the first half with an insane 58 points to lead by 32 points at the half. Both are season-highs this season. 

The Spartans got out to a 31-9 lead 10 minutes into the game and led different times by scores of 45-12 and 53-19. The Spartans finished the first half with impressive shooting numbers going 22-34 (64.7%) from the field and 11-17 (64.7%) from the three-point line. The Spartans were also great on the defensive end as the were tasked with guarding two players measuring 6-10 and one being the defending conference player of the year. 

Brock Simon was also phenomenal tonight with 23 points and nine rebounds. Simon was cooking in the first half making 5-6 from three and ended up finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds. Jaylin McCants scored 16 points with three steals and three big blocks. Off the bench, Grady Thompson produced 10 points. Senior Myles Leavy got into the game towards the end and got to the rim for an and one opportunity to finish with three points. Leavy also had a very pretty assist in the late stages of the game. 

The Spartans led by as many as 37 points tonight which is the largest lead of any game this season. Both the points in the paint and off turnovers belonged to the Spartans. 

Hear from Robbie Sieverding
"That was our best game of the year by far on both ends. Special night with our seniors and couldn't be more proud of them. Sam was awesome and ended up reaching 1000 points tonight and Brock was really good as well. Dylan also did a great job defensively especially in the first half. Can't say enough about our senior class and what they have done in their four years. We have a big week coming up and hope to continue playing good basketball down the stretch."

The Spartans have now won five straight to move to 19-4 on the year and 10-4 in conference play. All five teams atop the conference standings are separated by only one game heading into the final week of the regular season. 

Up Next
The Spartans have another big game on Wednesday, February 14 when they take on the Coe College Kohawks at the Stoltz Sports Center. The Kohawks currently have a one game lead on the Spartans in the standings with winning the first meeting between the two teams. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.