WAVERLY, Iowa – The Macalester College men's basketball team held off a late charge to clinch its first victory of the season, 75-72 at Wartburg College Saturday afternoon in Levick Arena. The Scots even their record at 1-1, while the Knights fall to 0-1.
Macalester led early and took control of the game with a 9-0 run sparked by a three from sophomore forward
Ryan Brush (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue) to lead 24-12 midway through the first half. Wartburg was able to cut the deficit to four, 26-22 before a three-pointer by junior guard
Coby Gold (Denver, Colo./Kent Denver) helped the Scots close out the half on a 9-5 run to take a 35-27 lead at the half. Macalester held the Knights to 25.7 percent shooting in the first half, while Gold and junior guard
Caleb Williams (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) each scored eight points to lead the Scots.
In the second half, Wartburg immediately cut into Macalester's lead, using three-pointers by Marshun Williams and Luke Ladwig to make it a two-point game, 38-36 three minutes after halftime. Another three from Gold plus a conventional three-point play by
Caleb Williams helped the Scots push the lead back up to seven, 46-39 with 13:35 on the clock. Again the Knights came within two points, only to have sophomore guard
Eric Wentz (Minot, N.D./Minot) convert a three-point play and drain a three on back-to-back possessions to restore the lead to eight, 54-46.
Over the next three minutes, Wartburg came within two points twice, only to have the Scots respond. With the lead at 69-61 with 3:14 to play, the Knights made another push, using a 9-2 run to make it a one-point game, 71-70 with 36 seconds left. After a pair of
Caleb Williams free throws, Ladwig hit a layup that made the score 73-72 with 26 seconds remaining. Gold was fouled and made 1-of-2 from the line, then
Caleb Williams stole the ball and was fouled. His free throw with two seconds left gave the Scots a 75-72 lead before time ran out.
Caleb Williams finished with a game-high 24 points to go with seven rebounds and four steals. Gold made 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and scored 16 points, while first year guard
Kaden Holdbrook (Palo Alto, Calif./Gunn) added 12 points. Junior forward
Armando Akapo-Nwagbo (Owerri, Nigeria/Pomona) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds, while Brush had seven boards to go with five points. Ladwig paced Wartburg with 22 points.
The Scots play another non-conference road game on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at UW-Stout. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. in Menomonie, Wis.
