CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The Coe College men's basketball team came up just short in a back-and-forth A-R-C matchup Saturday afternoon at Kohawk Arena, falling 73-72 to Wartburg College. Coe controlled much of the first half after trading early punches with the Knights as the Kohawks used a 25-17 run in the final 10 minutes of the period to take a 37-28 lead. Coe pushed its lead to 15 early in the second half, scoring the first six points of the period to establish momentum. The Knights charged back, ripping off a 16-4 run in just under five minutes to cut the deficit to three. The Kohawks tried to answer but the visitors pushed further over the next phase, outscoring Coe 21-8 to establish a 65-57 lead with 5:39 to play. Coe continued to fight and got three clutch free throws from
Ryan Dolphin in the final minute to make it a 70-69 game. Wartburg split a pair of free throws, setting up Dolphin for another huge moment as the senior knocked down a go-ahead 3-pointer with 10 seconds to play. Wartburg took the ball the length of the floor on the ensuing possession and managed to escape with the victory as a jumper from just outside the paint fell with less than two seconds to play.
Jackson Bowman led Coe's offensive effort in the game, scoring 20 points with four rebounds while Dolphin (15) and
Kanyon Bryte were the other two players in double figures. Dolphin also added six assists and four rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.
GAME FACTS
WARTBURG 73 - COE 72
- Both teams were on the mark to start the game, trading eight points each across the opening six minutes and 10 seconds. Coe put together a quick scoring stretch, going up 15-11 with a 9-3 spurt in the ensuing three minutes. The hosts continued to push the advantage with another run after a layup from the Knights, outscoring Wartburg 12-5 to pull ahead 27-18 with 5:35 left in the first. Bowman, who finished with 14 first-half points, led the stretch with five including a 3 to start it off. Wartburg looked to pull closer before the break, scoring six of the next nine to make it a two-possession lead for Coe. The Kohawks reestablished their momentum before the final whistle, scoring seven of the final 11 points to take a 37-28 lead into the break. Coe immediately stretched the lead in the first three minutes of the second, scoring six unanswered to make it 43-28. Wartburg responded over the next 4:30, ripping off a 16-4 run to get back into the game as the Knights cut the deficit to three at 47-44. Coe traded points with Wartburg during the next minute to settle down but the Knights kept coming, using a 15-4 run to go ahead 63-55 with 6:32 to play. A layup from C. Reece Breitenbach sparked a quick run for the Kohawks, scoring nine of the 11 as a 3 from Dolphin capped the burst and made it 65-64 Wartburg. It was back-and-forth in the closing three minutes but the Knights managed to push it to four with 1:45 to play. A scoreless drought ensued before Dolphin was fouled on a 3, allowing him to bury all three foul shots to make it 70-69 with 38 seconds left. Wartburg split a pair of free throws on the following possession and Coe managed to get possession back in the front court with just over 10 seconds left. Dolphin caught an inbounds pass at the top of the key and took one dribble before rising up to bury the triple to a 72-71 Coe lead. Wartburg didn't blink, immediately pushing the ball up the floor before a layup from Luke Ladwig found the bottom of the cup for the winner.
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