Midland holds on to top No. 3 Tigers in GPAC semis

MITCHELL, S.D. – For the first time in the 2014-15 season, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team did not come away with a win at home, falling in the Great Plains Athletic Conference postseason tournament semifinals Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

The No. 3 Tigers (28-4) could not come back from a rough shooting performance in the first half and fell to No. 14 Midland University 81-74. The game was a rematch of last year's GPAC quarterfinals when DWU went on the road to topple Midland.

The loss leaves the Tigers without an automatic bid for the NAIA National Tournament, but with the Tigers' ranking and the work they put in throughout the regular season, DWU should have no worry about receiving an at-large spot. The NAIA Division II tournament tips off on March 11 in Branson, Mo.

Against the Warriors, DWU shot just 38 percent in the first half, including a 6-of-20 performance from deep. The Tigers trailed by 15 points with 5.28 remaining before the break, but worked hard to get to the free-throw line, making 14-of-15 first-half attempts, and trailed by just three at the start of the second half.

Midland reasserted itself early in the second half taking a nine-point lead with 16:15 to play. The Tigers went on a run of their own, scoring 10 straight to take their first lead since early in the game. The run was keyed by a pair of 3-pointers from senior forward Jalen Voss (Worthington, Minn.).

The teams traded shots for the next 10 minutes, until Midland's Alex Starkel took over in the post. He scored six straight points for the Warriors late to help the road team move on the GPAC tournament championship game to be played Tuesday.

The game was the last at the Corn Palace for five Tigers, including Voss, guard Kris Menning (Corsica, S.D.), guard Joey Mitchell (Tulare, S.D.), forward Luke Bamberg (Corsica, S.D.) and forward Stephen Lee (Viborg, S.D.).

Mitchell eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career with a 3-pointer in the first half. Mitchell transferred to DWU prior to the 2014-15 season after three years at Black Hills State University.

Voss did his best to push the Tigers to a win on Saturday. He scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-15 shooting, while hitting three 3-pointers. Voss added six rebounds in the loss.

In the first half, the DWU offense was carried by junior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.). He scored 17 of his 23 points before the break and finished with three 3-points, eight assists and four rebounds. Mitchell added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists. Menning struggled most of the night to find his range. He was 1-of-8 from deep, finishing with seven points.

The Tigers shot 21-of-61 from the field and 11-of-39 from three-point range, while getting outrebounded 36-34. As a team, DWU had 17 assists and nine turnovers.

Four Warriors finished in double figures, led by Starkel with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Jalen Hueser and Marcus Franklin season finished with 17 points for the Warriors, who shot 31-of-69 from the field and 8-of-15 from deep.

NOTES: DWU finished the season 16-1 at home … Three Tigers reached the 1,000-point mark for their career this season, including Menning, Bergh and Mitchell … Voss is closing in on 2,000-career points with 1,953.