DWU men top rival Trojans in season opener

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team started the 2014-15 season with a road win over Dakota State University 86-59, as the Tigers pulled away in the second half in Madison, S.D.

DWU outscored DSU by 20 points after the break to open head coach Matt Wilber's second season at the helm of the Tigers with a win in a battle of teams receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll.

"For our season opener, I was very pleased with our team defense and effort," Wilber said. "I thought we executed offensively very well in the second half. DSU is a very good basketball team and dangerous. They are going to get a lot better."

The Tigers were led in the first half by senior guard Kris Menning (Corsica, S.D.), who poured in 17 of his game-high 23 points before the break. Menning was 6-for-14 from the field and made four 3-pointers.

Senior forward Jalen Voss (Worthington, Minn.) started his final season with the Tigers with a 10-for-21 night for 22 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.) made four 3-pointers and finished with 16 points in the season opener.

The Tigers shot 47 percent from the field in the game and 51 percent in the second half. They made 11 of 28 shots from beyond the arc and went 9-for-12 free throws. DWU outrebounded the Trojans 46-31.

DSU was led by Bryant Allen, who scored 16 points off the bench for the Trojans, while Brendon Boomsma added 11.

The Tigers continue the early portion of the season against Oglala Lakota College for the team's home opener at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. The game will be preceded by a matchup of the DWU junior varsity team against Tiger alumni.