No. 16 Midland defeats DWU men

FREMONT, Neb. – Midway through the second half the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team had No. 16 Midland University on the ropes Saturday afternoon in Fremont, Neb. The Tigers tied the game for the last time with 8:07 left to play, but the Warriors pulled away and held on for an 84-77 win.

The Tigers (5-6, 0-3 Great Plains Athletic Conference) led by two, 69-67, after a jumper by Jalen Voss with 8:53 left to play. Midland tied the game at 69 at 8:07, and was able to hang on to at least a slim lead the remainder of the game. Another jumper by Voss made it a one-point game, 74-73, with 5:53 to play, and a pair of free throws by Trae Bergh made it a three-point game, 78-75, with 2:23 left, but Midland went 4-for-6 from the line in the final two minutes to seal the win.

Midland (10-1, 5-1) led early, but the Tigers were able to take a slim lead on a three by Bergh with 16:10 left in the first half. Another three by Bergh and a free throw and jumper from Voss pushed DWU's lead to five, 16-11, with 14:28 left in the half, and threes by Stephen Lee and Jade Miller later made it a 10-point game, 28-18 midway through the first half. The Warriors cut it to a one-point game late in the half, but the Tigers led 43-39 at halftime.

The Tigers maintained their lead to start the second half, but a jumper by Marcus Franklin gave Midland its first lead of the second half at the 16-minute mark. DWU took the lead back, but never led by more than three and the game tied seven times before the Warriors took over in the final eight minutes.

Voss finished with 23 points to pace Dakota Wesleyan, which shot 50 percent from the field. Miller added 17 points, Bergh had 14 and Anthony Muilenburg chipped in with 12 points. Voss also had seven rebounds and Miller had six, and Tate Martin had a game-high eight assists. DWU hit 13 3-pointers, went 4-for-8 from the line and had 28 rebounds and nine turnovers.

Franklin led Midland with 23 points and Ben Imig added 21. Alex Starkel and DJ Vaughn each had 12 points and Brandon Williams finished with 10. Williams also had eight rebounds and Franklin had seven. The Warriors shot better than 51 percent from the field, went 18-for22 from the line and had 30 rebounds.

Dakota Wesleyan returns home Wednesday, Dec. 11, when it hosts Dordt College in a GPAC game at the Corn Palace. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.