DWU’s comeback falls short against Prairie Wolves

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – With 6:45 left to play, Trey Bardsley hit a 3-pointer to push the Nebraska Wesleyan University men's basketball team's lead to 20, 82-62, over the Dakota Wesleyan University men.

In the next five minutes, the Tigers went on an 18-2 run to make it a two-point game with 1:47 left to play. Tate Martin hit a jumper to make it a two-point game, and Bardsley went 1-for-2 from the line to make it a three-point game, 83-80, with 1:41 remaining. Jalen Voss went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line to make it a two-point game with 1:20 left, and Voss got a steal but missed on a jumper to tie the game.

Jonah Bradley hit a pair of free throws and Voss cut the lead to two, 85-83, with 25 seconds left, but Bradley hit two more free throws to push NWU's lead to four, and Martin went 1-for-2 from the line to make it 87-84 with 12 seconds left. Andrew Mitteis hit two free throws with six seconds left after being fouled to seal Nebraska Wesleyan's win.

The Prairie Wolves (3-0, 1-0 Great Plains Athletic Conference) gained the lead midway through the first half after both teams exchanged the lead to start the game. Trevor Johnson hit four straight free throws to put the Prairie Wolves up four, 20-16, and that was part of a10-1 run that ended with a 27-17 lead for Nebraska Wesleyan with 9:30 left in the first half. A pair of free throws by Martin made it a six-point game, but the Prairie Wolves went on a 7-0 run to make it a 13-point game, 38-25, with 4:44 left in the half.

NWU extended its lead to 18, but Trae Bergh hit a three right before the half to cut the Prairie Wolves' lead to 14, 50-36, at halftime. NWU extended its lead to 19 early in the second half, and made it a 21-point game on a three by Eric Jackson with 15:06 left to play. Nebraska Wesleyan led by as much as 24, 72-48, with 12:26 left, and Bardsley made it 82-62 with 6:45 left before the Tigers went on their run.

Bergh and Jade Miller hit back-to-back threes to start the run and make it a 12-point game, 82-70, with 4:35 left to play. Miller hit back-to-back threes with just under three minutes left to play to make it a four-point game, 82-78, but the Tigers' comeback wasn't enough.

Martin went 12-for-14 from the line and finished with 18 points to lead Dakota Wesleyan. Bergh finished with 17 points, Miller added 16, Luke Bamberg chipped in with 15 points and Voss added 10 points for Dakota Wesleyan. The Tigers shot 33 percent from the field in the first half and 40.7 percent for the game. Bergh added 11 rebounds and Bamberg had 10, and Martin had eight assists. The Tigers went 29-for-39 from the line and had 43 rebounds to NWU's 27. Anthony Muilenburg also finished with five points and four rebounds in his first collegiate basketball game.

Johnson led all scorers with 28 points for the Prairie Wolves. Bradley finished with 15, Trent Scheitel added 12 and Bardsley and Jackson both finished with 10 points. Johnson also had seven rebounds for Nebraska Wesleyan, which shot 53.8 percent from the field and went 28-for-40 from the line.

Dakota Wesleyan is now 5-4 overall and 0-1 in the GPAC. The Tigers travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff University at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26.