Three-point barrage, strong defense lead Tiger men to 20th win

MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 3 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team held the highest scoring team in the Great Plains Athletic Conference to 31 points below its average in a win Sunday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

The Tigers (20-1, 10-1 GPAC) shot 50 percent from deep and 62.7 percent from the field in a 97-63 win over Nebraska Wesleyan University to maintain a one-game lead atop the GPAC.

Senior forward Kris Menning (Corsica, S.D.) led the assault from deep, hitting five 3-pointers en route to a 21-point performance for DWU. Menning added 11 rebounds for a double-double, while shooting 8-of-13 from the field.

Senior guard Joey Mitchell (Tulare, S.D.) scored a game-high 23 points, while hitting three 3-pointers. Mitchell added four rebounds and four assists in the win.

Junior forward Jade Miller (Mitchell, S.D.) has come alive in his new starting role with leading scorer Jalen Voss (Worthington, Minn.) sidelined with an injury. Miller continues to be a threat driving to the basket for the Tigers, as he added 14 points on 5-of- 7 shooting and finished with three blocks.

Junior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.) hit three 3-pointers and finished with 13 points, while freshman forward Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) came off the bench to add 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Sophomore point guard Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) finished four points shy of a triple double with six points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Tigers finished just short of breaking the school record for field goal percentage in a game, which stands at 64.2 set in 1997-98. The win is the ninth straight for DWU, with three straight games on the road on deck.

GPAC leading scorer Trey Bardsley was held to 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting to lead the Prairie Wolves. NWU shot 26-of-71 from the field and 7-of-26 from long range, while getting outrebounded 38-24 by the Tigers.

DWU heads to Briar Cliff University for a GPAC matchup at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.