DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing skid on Wednesday, defeating the Norse 66-43 behind a stellar defensive showing. The Spartans shot lights out in the first half on their way to four scorers in double figures, led by Jacob Williams and Dylan Hibicke with 13 points each.

The Spartans would hold the lead for 39 minutes tonight and it all got started with two straight triples in the opening minutes by Hibicke and Jalen Scott that gave them a 6-0 lead. The Spartans would build their lead out to double digits in the first five minutes, but the Norse were able to pull within four over the next three minutes with the Spartans ahead 18-14 with 12:18 left in the first half. 

With the Spartans still leading by 10 with 7:15 left until half, a triple on each of the next three Spartans' possessions would put them up 40-23. The last five minutes of the first half were quite as both teams only recorded one made field goal each. The Spartans led by 16 at the half.

The Spartans maintained a healthy lead throughout the second half, leading by as many as 25. Despite being held to only one made basket in the final six minutes of the game, the Spartans defense stifled the Norse to just 43 points in 40 minutes. The Norse' 43 points is the fewest points the Spartans' defense has allowed this season. 

The Spartans shot 51.61% from the field in the first half and 61.54% from beyond the arc, but cooled off in the second half shooting just 30%. 

Both Williams and Hibicke each had a team-high 13 points. Hibicke was 3-6 from three, while Williams added a pair of blocks. Grady Thompson and Ethan Henderson added 10 points as Henderson was one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Jalen Scott recorded eight points, six assists, and five rebounds. Josh Senica added seven points. 

Hear from Robbie Sieverding
"We had really good contributions from pretty much everyone tonight which was awesome to see. Dylan really got us going and Ethan also had a nice game. We had 14 assists on 16 made baskets in the first half and the ball was really moving. I thought the second half wasn't as good offensively, but defensively we were solid."

The Spartans improve to 15-9 overall and 8-7 in conference play. After tonight's conference games the Spartans have locked up the No. 4 seed in the A-R-C tournament that will begin next Tuesday.

Up Next
The Spartans will celebrate senior day on Saturday, February 21 when they face the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves at 4:00 p.m. from Stoltz.