DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's basketball captured it's first Iowa Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday, Feb. 24 in front of the largest crowd the Spartans have palyed in front of in Stoltz Sports Center since it's renovation. UD trailed by six points to the Wartburg College Knights in the opening half 27-33. The Spartans turned the scoring on and out scored the Knights in the second half 46-27 to capture the contest 73-60.
UD started the contest struggling to find a basket, Miles Hookstead was a one man scoring machine, who kept the Spartans within a whisper of losing sight of the Knights in the opening 20 minutes of action. Wartburg came out and sank five baskets from the three point area in the first half to give the Knights a spark for coach Dick Peth. Andre Norris stepped it up in the second half to match the leading scorer of Hookstead who finished with 17 points. Mitch Michaelis finished with 13 points and led in the game with six assists. Isaiah Reeves helped stretch the Spartan lead in the second half when he sank three balls from deep outside to finish with nine points.
Hookstead led all rebounders in the contest with 10 rebounds which included six offensive boards. UD out rebounded the Knights 38-25 and out scored them in the paint 38-21. The Knights defensively forced the Spartans into committing 13 turnovers and scored 21 points off UD's miscues.
UD enter the tournament with a 22-6 record and will learn on Monday who and where they will play in the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championships. The NCAA selection show will begin at 11:30 (Central time).