GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College gave the Wartburg College men's basketball team fits all night, but in the end the visiting Knights prevailed 112-89 Tuesday at Darby Gymnasium.
 
The 1-3 Pioneers led a good portion of the first half thanks in part to Adam Phillips '23, who lit up the nets for 21 points on seven 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.
 
However, the 1-1 Knights – who were picked to finish second in the American Rivers Conference - slowly pulled in front and led 48-39 at halftime. They maintained their cushion in the second half on their way to victory.
 
Wartburg held a big edge in free throws, making 35-of-46 while Grinnell was 8-of-19 from the line.
 
Phillips led all scorers with 27 points, hitting 9-of-22 shots from 3-point land. Dillon Gestring '25 added 16 points and Aiden Gilbert '23, in his first game back from injury, put in 12.
 
Brady Vest '23 grabbed six boards while Zach Rosen '26, David Bluder '25, Jack Ruhanen '25 and Tolu Johnson '25 all had four. Rosen led the assists department with six and Vest came up with three. Mazlish and Gestring each had career-highs of three steals apiece.
 
Grinnell bolted out to an 8-2 lead as Phillips hit consecutive treys and Gilbert sank a jumper. Wartburg fought back to go ahead and the teams were back and forth after that, with Phillips giving Grinnell its final lead at 31-30 on a 3-pointer at the 6:09 mark.
 
Wartburg then pulled ahead, and later a 9-2 run to finish the half gave the Knights a nine-point cushion.
 
The visitors held a double-digit lead most of the second half, but Grinnell hung tough and cut the gap to nine at 79-70 on two free throws by Rosen with 7:31 left. That was as close as the hosts would get as Wartburg secured the win.
 
Grinnell opens Midwest Conference play Saturday with a game at Lake Forest College. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.