DUBUQUE, Iowa - In another battle of top A-R-C teams, the University of Dubuque men's basketball team hosted the #23 ranked Coe College Kohawks where both defenses were put on display, but the Kohawks were able to hit enough shots down the stretch to defeat the Spartans 50-56. 

The last time the Spartans took the court they shot lights out, tonight the Spartans were unable to get open shots that made each shot tough. Both defenses started the game making the opposing offenses work for everything they got. Both teams found themselves tied at 12-12 halfway through the first half before the Spartans went on a 10-0 run to find themselves up 22-12 three minutes later. With the Spartans still up 10 with 4:04 remaining before half, the Kohawks went on a 10-0 run of their own to go to the break knotted at 26-26. 

The Spartans got the first basket of the second half, but the Kohawks were able to build a lead as 28-34, but the Spartans had a spark offensively for 2:45 of game clock in a nine point spurt to regain the lead at 37-34 with 13:05 to play. The Kohawks converted a 8-0 right after and held the Spartans scoreless for well over the next five minutes. The Kohawks got their biggest lead of the game with 4:47 remaining, but the Spartans used one last push cutting the Kohawk lead to two with 35 seconds left. The Kohawks would then hit 5-6 free throws to seal the game. 

Hear from Robbie Sieverding
"We just couldn't get into a rhythm tonight offensively and credit Coe for that. Jaylin was good and created some offense for us but we needed to better on the glass. I thought the the end of the first half we didn't execute well on either end. We have to turn the page and get ready for the next one."

McCants finished with 20 points (13 in the first half) and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Sam Kilburg added 10 points and Brock Simon finished with seven points, seven rebounds. 

With the defenses being on display, the Spartans finished the game shooting 28.6% from the field and made only five three-pointers in 24 attempts. Both the Spartans and Kohawks exchanged nine lead changes and nine ties throughout the highly competitive conference battle. 

The Spartans move to 19-5 overall and 10-5 in conference play. 

Up Next
The Spartans will face the Loras College Duhawks in the regular season finale on Saturday, February 17 at 4:00 p.m. at Loras College. 

Saturday's game will determine if the Spartans will host or be on the road in the first round of the A-R-C tournament and who their opponent will be as a lot is yet to be decided in the deep A-R-C race.