LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan remained unbeaten in Snyder Arena for the year as they held on for a 95-91 victory over University of Dubuque on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 14) in a hard fought Iowa Conference men's basketball battle.
 
In a game that featured 59 combined fouls and 74 free throw attempts, it came down to the Prairie Wolves knocking down free throws in the final seconds to earn the victory.
 
Dubuque's Jake Weber made a layup with 52 seconds remaining to put the Spartans up 90-89.  On the other end, Nate Schimonitz drove into the lane but missed his shot attempt, he did get his own offensive rebound and scored on the putback while getting fouled making it 91-90.  Schimonitz missed the free throw, but Deion Wells-Ross got a crucial offensive rebound forcing the Spartans to foul.
 
Cooper Cook went to the line with 22 seconds left and converted both attempts to give NWU a 93-90 advantage.  Dubuque missed the tying 3-point attempt but the Spartans were fouled on the rebound sending Weber to the line.  He hit the first free throw, then missed the second intentionally but the rebound went out of bounds off Dubuque with under three seconds left.
 
Cook sealed the game making two more free throws with 0.9 remaining giving NWU their 10^th win of the season.
 
The game was tied eight times, including 41-41 at halftime.  The lead changed hands eight different times.
 
NWU jumped out quick getting up 17-4 with just over five minutes played in the game.  The Spartans battled back and used a 12-1 run late in the half to tie it up at halftime.
 
Jake Weber had a huge game for Dubuque scoring 30 points with 19 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and three steals.  Three other Spartans scored in double figures and four players fouled out of the game.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan had key contributions from several different players.  Nate Schimonitz led the way with 22 points, going 8-10 at the free throw line.  He had 14 in the second half, getting a lot of points driving to the basket.
 
Deion Wells-Ross came off the bench to score 20 points and tie for the team lead with seven rebounds before he fouled out in the final seconds.  Cooper Cook added 14 points and Ryan Garver scored 12 with seven rebounds.
 
It is now a quick turnaround for the Prairie Wolves as they travel to Central College on Monday for another key IIAC game.