Late Rally Pushes Tigers Past Warriors in Conference Home Opener

MITCHELL, S.D. – The No. 25 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team (6-1, 2-0 GPAC) hit the shots when they needed to in a back-and-forth dogfight against No. 21 Midland University (6-1, 1-1 GPAC). Thanks to some late heroics, the Tigers pushed past the Warriors in a 76-69 victory Saturday night at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

 Senior guard Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) started the game shooting lights-out from behind the three-point line. Martin finished 4-for-7 from behind the arc with 22 points, six assists and four rebounds. With 12 lead changes, Martin's hot shooting proved to be the difference.

 It was late heroics that secured the victory in the tight GPAC battle. With three minutes remaining, freshman guard Nate Davis (Watertown, S.D.) drove to the hoop and was fouled as his shot rolled in. Davis made the free-throw to earn the old-fashioned three-point play, putting the Tigers up by five. Minutes later, junior guard Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) ripped down a defensive rebound and was fouled, leading to a pair of made free throws. Vandeberg finished the game with 16 points and five rebounds, while Davis added 15 points and grabbed five rebounds.

 With Midland up by one with 52 seconds to play, freshman Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) hit a game-changing 3-pointer from the left side of the key, leading the Tigers to victory.

 Junior forward Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) tallied 10 points to go along with five rebounds. The Tigers shot 46 percent from the field and 86 percent from the free throw line.

 DWU hits the road for another GPAC battle against Mount Marty College at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Yankton, S.D.