ALDEN &045;&160;Sparked by a strong defensive effort and timely shooting the Alden-Conger boys’ basketball team advanced to the sub-section semifinal with a 64-59 victory over Truman, Saturday.

Down six with eight minutes to go the Knights got a big 3-pointer from Ryan Wach and Jordan Montes, who finished the game with a team-high 24 points, hit another a few minutes later to put A-C in the lead for good.

Truman would try to wrestle the lead back, but the Knights were able to ice the game at the free throw line.

While A-C hit the big shots late in the game it was a switch to man-to-man defense that sparked the team’s win.

&8220;That switch from zone to man-to-man is what won the game for us,&8221; said A-C head coach Charlie Freitag.

&8220;We started to play with more aggression.&8221;

While Bute led the way for A-C the team also got big games from Alex Bute who had 12 points and seven assists while Derek Peterson added 12 points and eight rebounds.

The win was the second straight for the Knights over Truman after they dispatched them during the Valley Conference Tournament.

&8220;This is the first time we played them at home, and to have a packed house helped in a close game like this,&8221; said Freitag.

The Knights improved to 13-12 with the win as they prepare to take on top-seed Mankato Loyola in St. James Thursday at 5 p.m.