Hot Shooting Spartans Clinch IIAC Tourney Berth
Feb 5, 2014
WAVERLY, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's basketball time began the week with the final four out of six games on the road. Wednesday night UD used hot shooting to overtake the Wartburg College Knights on their home court 83-65 and clinched a spot in the Iowa Conference Tournament. The Spartans never trailed, led 46-31 at the halftime break, and would stretch the lead to as much as 27 points in the second half.
The Spartans shot almost 50% from the outside as they connected on 13-27 three point attempts and ended the Iowa Conference tilt by sinking 34-62 shot attempts (54.8%) and were a perfect 2-2 at the free throw line after the hosts were called for just seven fouls in the game.
Offensively the Spartans were led in scoring by Andre Norris' 22 points after sinking 4-7 three point attempts. He has led UD in scoring seven times this season and is averaging 17.2 points a game . Chris Frazier ended the night with 15 points, four assists and five rebounds. He is shooting above 90% from the free throw line (37-41) and has not missed a free throw in conference play for the Spartans.
This week's Iowa Conference Male Athlete of the Week, Gage Heffernan, added 12 points and four steals as teammate Brandon Ferguson came off the bench to finish with 11 points in 19 minutes of play. UD out scored the Knights in the paint 30-22 and would score 19 points off the Knights 17 turnovers.
UD improved to 19-1 overall and 8-1 in the IIAC and have been averaging 80.6 points a game and have a one game lead in the conference race. The Spartan defensive pressure has been holding their opponents to 69.4 points a game, a +11.2 advantage in 2013-14.
The Spartans travel to Indianola on Saturday, Feb. 8 to face the Simpson Storm (3-17 overall, 1-8 in IIAC), whom they beat on Jan. 29 by a 76-66 score. Tip-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
