Jimmies Outlast Tigers on Saturday

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – The No. 25 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team traveled north for a non-conference battle, suffering a 98-92 loss to future Great Plains Athletic Conference member, the University of Jamestown on Saturday at the Jamestown Civic Center in Jamestown, N.D.

 The Tigers (7-2, 3-0 GPAC) scored over 90 points for the sixth game this season, while shooting 51 percent from the field. However, the hot-shooting effort was not enough to counter the 54 percent shooting from the field, and 58 percent from beyond the arc from the Jimmies (3-5, 0-0 NSAA).

 After taking a 21-19 lead at the 10 minute mark in the first half, thanks to a 3-pointer from Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.), the Tigers saw their lead slip heading into the locker room. Heading into the second half, the Tigers chipped away at the 10 point lead held by JU. Freshman Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) pulled the Tigers within a point with 16 minutes to play on a long-range 3-pointer. The Tigers fought and clawed their way back in the latter portion of the contest off of free throws. However, JU made 5-of-6 free throws in the closing seconds to put the game out of reach for DWU.

 DWU was led by the duo of junior guard Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) and junior forward Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.). Vandeberg recorded his second double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Spicer finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and four assists. The two were combined for a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

 Martin added 17 points and seven assists, while Hoglund tallied 17 points, and freshman guard Nate Davis (Watertown, S.D.) scored 10 points to round-out the starting five for the Tigers. The Jimmies outscored the Tigers' bench 23 to six.

 DWU returns home for a conference battle against the Morningside College Mustangs at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.