Defense shines as Tiger men top Mount Marty

YANKTON, S.D. – Holding its opponent to under 20 points in the second half, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team cruised to a 72-41 victory over in-state rival Mount Marty College Wednesday in Great Plains Athletic Conference play in Yankton, S.D.

 The Tiger defense held Mount Marty to under 10 points until the 8:58 mark in the first half. Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) found his groove from the three-point line, hitting a long-range 3-pointer to give DWU a 24-9 lead.

 Nygel Drury (Madison, Wis.) accounted for six points that started at the 8:57 mark and concluded at the 6:45 mark in the first half. Drury was also a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball, holding the Lancers to just 33 percent shooting from the field in the first stanza.

 Coming out of the locker room with a 19-point lead, Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) nailed home a 3-pointer to put Mount Marty at bay. Minutes later, senior Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) landed back-to-back jumpers with under 16 minutes to play in the game to give the Tigers (9-4, 3-2 GPAC) a 30-point edge.

 DWU extended its lead to 40 points after a 3-pointer by Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.), a jumper by Spicer and another 3-pointer by Drury. From the 10-minute mark to the end of the game, the Lancers were held to just 11 points.

 Vandeberg led all scorers with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 shooting from three-point land. Spicer chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Drury had 11 points and five rebounds. Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) added 10 points and Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.) had five points and 11 rebounds.

 The Tigers shot 44 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc, while out-rebounding the Lancers 47-33. DWU also had 16 assists compared to six by MMC.

 DWU continues conference play, taking on Hastings College at 4 p.m. Saturday in Hastings, Neb.