Burger and Ragen Complete Comeback Win for UD
Feb 15, 2020
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque men’s basketball team trailed by as many as 14 points in the second half, but stormed back and Mitch Burger sank a layup with 1.8 seconds remaining to send the Spartans home 85-83 winners.
The Luther offense came out firing on all levels, connecting on eight of their first 11 three point attempts. Despite the Spartans slowing the Norse from beyond the arc in the final minutes of the first half, the Norse still expanded their lead to as many as 12 with 41 seconds remaining before half. The Spartans in their own right hit seven threes in the first half, the last coming from Carter Stevens with 14 seconds remaining in the half to pull the Spartans within nine at halftime.
The way the second half opened it, it much like the first half as the Norse drilled six three-pointers before the 11-minute mark to build their biggest lead of the night at 14. The Spartans chipped away rather quickly, getting back within single digits in two minutes and pulling within one possession with 7:56 remaining with the help of a 12-0 run over three-minute span.
The Spartans tied it up with a Peter Ragen layup with 6:43 remaining but could not break through to take the lead until Ragen sank two free throws with 2:50 to play. It was the first time UD had led since it was 9-6, less than five minutes into the game. The Spartans got the lead to as many as four, but four straight free throws from the Norse brought the game back to even with 12 seconds remaining.
With the Norse not pressing, Mitch Burger raced the ball up the court and floated a layup that sat on the rim before finally falling in with 1.8 seconds remaining. After a timeout, the Norse desperation heave was blocked by Ragen and escaped with the 85-83 victory.
Instrumental in the comeback was Ragen, who tallied 14 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 20. He also came up one rebound shy of a double-double, finishing with nine, six of which came on the defensive glass. Burger was right behind Ragen with 18 points of his own, while also distributing five assists. Senior Avery Butler would also add 10 points in 31 minutes.
The Spartans go on the road for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 19th, taking on Coe College in Cedar Rapids at 7:30 p.m.
