Hastings edges No. 9 Tigers with late free throws
HASTINGS, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team found themselves in a second straight close game resolved by a late foul call, this time with the Tigers coming out on the wrong end of a crucial call Saturday in Hastings, Neb.
HASTINGS, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team found themselves in a second straight close game resolved by a late foul call, this time with the Tigers coming out on the wrong end of a crucial call Saturday in Hastings, Neb.
The No. 9 Tigers rallied to take a one-point lead with 14.7 seconds to play, but a foul called on senior forward Terrell Newton (Huron, S.D.) sent Hastings College to the line where Carson Blum knocked down two free-throws with six seconds to go. The ensuing possession for DWU ended with senior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.) going to the floor with no foul call as the Broncos emerged with an 83-82 win.
The loss puts DWU at 12-5 overall and 5-3 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
The Tigers trailed by three points with 1:49 to play, but junior point guard Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) pulled DWU back. Martin seven points in the final minute, including a 3-point play that had the Tigers up one late.
Prior to Martin taking over in the late moments, the Tigers were held close by senior forward Jade Miller (Mitchell, S.D.), who finished with a game-high 30 points. Miller was 12-of-19 from the field, while adding five 3-pointers and eight rebounds.
Martin finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Bergh was held to 13 points. The loss was the first game that Bergh did not make a 3-pointer since Dec. 29, 2014. Sophomore Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) came off the bench to add 11 points.
The Tigers shot 27-of-58 from the field, 8-of-24 from deep and 20-of-24 from the line. The Tigers won the rebounding battle 36-33, but finished with an uncharacteristic 19 turnovers, a season high.
Hastings had four players finish in double figures, led by Kendall Ferguson's 17 points and three 3-pointers. Blum finished with 16 points, as the Broncos shot 27-of-58 from the field, 6-of-14 from behind the arc and 14-of-17 from the line.
DWU looks to get back in the win column against Northwestern College at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Orange City, Iowa.
