Cedar Rapids, Iowa --- The Wartburg Men's Basketball put their five game road winning streak on the line Friday, March 10, 2017 against Augustana (Ill.) in the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.
Coach Dick Peth's Knight's fell just short against Augustana, dropping the sweet sixteen match up 69-80. Augustana awaits the winner of No.12 Hanover (25-3) and No.18 Hope (23-6) who play Friday, March 10 (7:30 p.m. Eastern). The elite-8 matchup will take place Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Hope College in Holland, Mich. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Wartburg's hot hand that led to an impressive seven game winning streak, which included two wins against top-10 teams and an Iowa Conference tournament title as the No. 6 seed, came to an end tonight. The Knights shot 38.7% from the field and 40% from three point land compared to the Vikings 45% FG and 47.8% 3FG. On the boards, Augustana out-rebounded Wartburg 46 to 32. The Knights were paced by leading scorer Jordan Cannon, who had 17 points and 5 rebounds. Jaran Sabus was the second leading scorer for the Knights with 13 points and 5 rebounds. The leading co-leading rebounder for the Knights was Josh Gehling, with 5 rebounds and also adding 8 points.
Augustana came into the sweet sixteen matchup having knocked off the defending National Champion, St Thomas in the first-round 77-74 and defeating No. 22 UW-Whitewater 72-70 in the second round. The Vikings leading scorer against the Knights was Nolan Ebel, with 16 points and 4 rebounds.
Wartburg in the NCAA Tournament
Wartburg vs. Coe, 1975, First-round, W 79-78
Wartburg vs. Augustana, 1975, Regional Championships, L 61-62
Wartburg vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 1987, First-round, W 91-81
Wartburg vs. Gust. Adolphus, 1987, Regional Championships (Sweet Sixteen) W 74-72
Wartburg vs. North Park, 1987, Quarterfinals (Elite Eight), L 63-88
Wartburg vs. Gust. Adolphus, 1989, First-round, W 78-62
Wartburg vs. Neb. Wesleyan, 1989, Regional Semifinals, L 63-87
Wartburg vs. Pomona-Pitzer, 1989, Regional Third Place, L 67-80
Wartburg vs. Central, 1991, Second-round, W 75-73 **Wartburg received a First-round bye
Wartburg vs. Calvin, 1991, Sectional Semifinals (Sweet Sixteen), L 71-76
Wartburg vs. St. John's, 1993, First-round, L 75-80 (ot)
Wartburg vs. Ill. Wesleyan, 2001, Second-round, L 60-65
Wartburg vs. Benedictine, 2017, First-round, W 92-66
Wartburg vs. UW-River Falls, 2017, Second-round, W 76-43
Wartburg vs. Augustana (Ill.), 2017, Sweet Sixteen, L 69-80
