DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque men's basketball team gained ground on Saturday and moved to within a game of the Iowa Conference leading Buena Vista Beavers with a dominating 87-66 victory over the Coe College Kohawks on Jon Davison Court in Stoltz Sports Center on Saturday. The Spartans jumped out to an opening 10-1 margin and never looked back as they moved to a tie for second place of the IIAC.

UD's five starters put a complete game together and all finished in double digits in scoring on Saturday. Lucas Ware continued to have the hot hand as he led the Spartans in scoring with 18 points and also in rebounding with 10 boards. Ware has led the Spartans in scoring for the third consecutive contest after starting the season quietly. Andre Norris who is leading the Spartans in scoring with a 19.2 ppg average finished with 16 points in just 25 minutes of play. Gage Heffernan added 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds as teammates Jacob Mohlis and Brandon Ferguson finished with 13 points and 12 points. 

The Spartans led 46-35 in the opening half and scored 15 points off the Kohawks turnovers and an additional 20 points in second chances. UD led for 39:50 out of the 40 minutes of action and would miss just three free throw attempts, sinking 27-30 attempts (90%). UD lost just 10 days ago to the Kohawks by a score of 63-69, Saturday afternoon the Spartans left no doubt on the victory as they sank 10-17 three point attempts (58.8%) and 25-58 attempts from the field (43.1%).

The schedule doesn't get any easier as the Spartans (17-4 overall, 7-3 in IIAC) travel to Simpson College (6-15 overall, 1-9 in IIAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Wartburg College (13-8 overall, 6-4 in IIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 14 before returning home to face Buena Vista University (15-6 overall, 8-2 in IIAC) on Wednesday, Feb. 18 and wrapping up the regular conference season by hosting Luther College (8-13 overall, 4-6 in IIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Iowa Conference basketball tournament begins on Tuesday, Feb. 24.