Tigers outscore Southeastern University in Mike Miller Classic finale

MITCHELL, S.D. – With three players scoring at least 20 points, the No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team toppled Southeastern University in a high-scoring affair, 106-97 Friday night in the Mike Miller Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

Trae Vandeberg
Trae Vandeberg

Team Stats

December 30, 2016

MITCHELL, S.D. – With three players scoring at least 20 points, the No. 12 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team toppled Southeastern University in a high-scoring affair, 106-97 Friday night in the Mike Miller Classic at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

 The Fire (9-7, 0-3) jumped out to a quick 15-8 lead after five minutes of play. The Tigers (15-3, 6-1 GPAC) closed the gap and took their first lead of the game, 18-17 two minutes later following a Kaleb Johnson (Sioux Falls, S.D.) 3-pointer. The lead changed hands eight more times in the first half with the Tigers claiming the 37-35 lead after Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) swished his second 3-pointer of the half. DWU did not surrender the lead again in the first half as they went into the locker room with the 50-45 advantage.

 The Tigers continued to find their groove early in the second half as Vandeberg sliced through the lane for a lay-up putting DWU in front, 70-61 with 12 minutes left. SEU put the full-court press on the Tigers late in the game to pull within six points with just over one minute remaining. DWU, however, would drain seven consecutive free-throws in the final minute to clinch their seventh straight victory.

 Junior Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) led the Tigers with a double-double as he scored 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Vandeberg added 24 points and brought down 10 rebounds. Vandeberg notched his 1,000th-career point in his college career that includes 308 points at Wayne State College. Last night, senior Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) tallied his 1,000th-career point as well. Martin was the third Tiger with a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds as freshman Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) tallied 23 points. Johnson and Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) each scored nine points off the bench. The Tigers shot 53 percent from the field and went 27-of-30 from the free-throw line.

 DWU hits the road for their next match-up as they take on in-state rival Dakota State University at 7 p.m. Monday in Madison, S.D.