Four Tigers hit the double-digit scoring mark in victory over Johnson and Wales

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Down by three points at halftime, the No. 20 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team notched 56 second-half points, topping Johnson and Wales University-North Miami 100-92 on Wednesday in the Marietta Rappaport Holiday Classic in West Palm Beach, Fla.

 Johnson and Wales led for the first six minutes of the contest until Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.) hit a long-range 3-pointer to put the Tigers (12-5, 4-3 GPAC) within one, which was quickly followed by a Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.) layup to put the Tigers in the driving seat. Johnson and Wales re-took the lead at the 6:48 mark, however Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Tigers with three points of the Wildcats heading into halftime.

 Vandeberg secure the lead for the Tigers on a 3-pointer coming out of the break, giving DWU a 52-49 lead. Vandeberg and Nygel Drury (Madison, Wis.) followed through again two minutes later with two more three-point shots to give DWU a 10-point lead. Later in the second half, Drury kept the Wildcats from coming within striking distance after making a 3-pointer that put the Tigers up by 14 points.

 Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) and Vandeberg later cashed in six-straight made free throws that ultimately put the Tigers in the driver's seat.

 Hoglund led the Tigers with 29 points on 8-of-14 shooting from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point land, while adding five boards. Vandeberg was 5-of-9 from beyond the arc for a 21-point performance that included seven boards and four assists. Drury added 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

 As a team, the Tigers shot 52 percent from the field, 55 percent from beyond the arc and 84 percent from the charity stripe. DWU outrebounded the Wildcats 39-24 and had 19 assists compared to 12 from Johnson and Wales.

 The Tigers are back in action against Peru State in the Mike Miller Classic at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.