DWU men run away from Dordt 102-72

MITCHELL, S.D. – In a festive atmosphere at the Corn Palace, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team welcomed Dordt College to a block party Wednesday in Mitchell, S.D.

The No. 6 Tigers swatted nine total shots and pulled away in the second half to topple the Defenders (RV) 102-72 to stay on top of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The win avenged the Tigers (22-3, 13-3 GPAC) first loss of the season and was the first victory for DWU over Dordt since 2010-11.

The long-range bombers were out in full force for the Tigers in the first half, with senior guard Kris Menning (Corsica, S.D.) hitting five of the nine first-half 3-pointers for DWU. The Tigers took a 14-point lead into halftime and pulled away by getting to the basket in the second half.

Junior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.) led DWU with a game-high 25 points, while Menning added 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field. Menning also finished with seven rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Joey Mitchell (Tulare, S.D.) scored 18 points, while adding six rebounds, six assists and three steals.

Senior forward Jalen Voss (Worthington, Minn.) led the Tiger defense with four blocks and scoried 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Senior forward Luke Bamberg (Corsica, S.D.) added six points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks in the win.

The Tigers shot 39-of-70 from the field and 11-of-24 from deep, while outrebounding Dordt 38-24. After finishing its last game against Doane with zero turnovers, DWU was efficient on offense again with seven turnovers compared to 25 total assists.

The Defenders got a team-high 23 points from Tyler Wolterstorff, including four 3-pointers, while Nathan Rindels, with nine coming in the first five minutes of the game.

Dordt shot 26-of-69 from the field and 8-of-17 from deep.

The Tigers continue GPAC play with a matchup against Concordia University at 4 p.m. Saturday in Seward, Neb.