Bergh ties school record against Trinity Bible

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan University sophomore guard Trae Bergh made quite the impression in his first start for the Tiger men's basketball team.He led both teams and scored a career-high 43 points, pulled down eight rebounds – another career high – and tied the school record for 3-pointers in a game in DWU's season-opening 92-68 win over Trinity Bible College Monday night at the Corn Palace. Bergh, a Crooks, S.D., native, hit 10 3-pointers to tie the school record, which was previous set by Dan Duffy in 1982-83. Bergh hit seven straight threes, which was two shy of Tyson Theeler's record of nine consecutive threes, set in the 1994-95 season.

Bergh's hot hand was key for DWU's offense, which was without three of its starters Monday night. The Tigers, who started three sophomores, one junior and one redshirt freshman against the Lions. Trinity Bible jumped to an 11-2 lead five minutes into the game, but Jade Miller hit a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 run that cut TBC's lead to one, 11-10, with just over 13 minutes left in the half. Tate Martin gave DWU its first lead of the game, 22-21, on a jumper at the 8:21 mark in the first half, and DWU was able to maintain a slim lead the rest of the half and led 40-35 at halftime.

Bergh hit a three to start the second half and start a 19-4 run that included two threes by Bergh and one by Sawyer Gibson, spanned the first six minutes of the half and ended with a 49-39 lead for Dakota Wesleyan. Trinity Bible (0-1) was able to cut the lead down to 13 with 12:12 left to play, but Miller and Bergh hit back-to-back threes to extend the lead, which DWU was able to maintain to end the game.

Dakota Wesleyan (1-0) shot 43.7 percent from the field and hit 17 3-pointers Monday night. Bergh went 15-for-22 from the field, 10-for-15 from long range and 3-for-3 from the line. Miller also finished with 20 points and Matt Henriksen added 11. Miller finished with 10 rebounds and Martin had a game-high 14 assists. DWU went 13-for-15 from the line and outrebounded the Lions 49-31.

Nick Lentz paced Trinity Bible with 22 points and AJ Anthony Added 21 points and eight rebounds. The Lions shot 42.2 percent from the field, went 11-for-16 from the line and hit three 3-pointers.

DWU is back at home Tuesday, Nov. 5, when it hosts Presentation College at 8 p.m.