MAC SLAVIN SPORTS EDITOR
The Knights basketball team kept their season alive after topping the University of Dubuque 87-67 Tuesday night in Levick Arena. The win slates a rematch for the Knights against Buena Vista University Thursday night in Storm Lake.
A Danny Stark jumper started things off for the Knights turning a Kelly McCaville pass into two points. The Knights went on an 8-1 run until Dubuque’s Demarcus Russel hit a three-pointer to make the score 8-4.
The Knights held the lead until 12:49 left in the first half, where the Spartans tied up the game. After a back and forth battle, the Spartans took their only lead of the game with 4:07 left in the first half.
Ross Timmermans answered with a three-pointer to put the Knights up for good. The Knights extended their lead to eight at the half.
Both Stark and Cole Danielson lead the Knights with 11 points in the first half.
Russell tried to get his Spartans back in the game by hitting a three ten seconds into the second half narrowing the lead to five; but that was as close as the Spartans would get.
The Knights extended their lead to as much as 23 in the second half, before finally finishing the Spartans season with a final score of 87-67.
Five double-digit scoring performances led the Knights. Danielson led all scores with 20 points. Stark finished the game with 15 points, while Timmermans, Travis Kern and Jordan Sathoff finished with 10 points apiece.
Stark led the Knights with nine rebounds while Sathoff finished with eight.
Three Spartans finished in double figures, as they were lead by Michael Okpalaeze who finished the night with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The win advances the Knights to the second round of the Iowa Conference tournament, where they will travel to Storm Lake to play Buena Vista. Earlier in the year the Knights upset the Beavers at home 80-66 before dropping their second game in Storm Lake 89-79.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
Photo by Amanda Gahler