Hot shooting propels No. 20 Tigers over Bobcats in Mike Miller Classic

MITCHELL, S.D. – With 9:30 remaining in the game, the No. 20 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team led by 18 points before Peru State College attempted a comeback that cut the DWU lead to five points with a minute left. However, free-throw shooting allowed DWU to put the game away down the stretch as they won 97-87 at the Mike Miller Classic Friday night at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

 After five minutes of play, Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made a layup to give the Tigers (13-5, 4-3 GPAC) their first lead of the game.

 With 7:21 left in the first half, Nygel Drury (Madison, Wis.) drove the lane and finished the layup to kickstart the Tiger offense to go on a 12-3 run over the next two minutes.

 DWU built on their lead as they took a 46-31 lead heading into halftime following a Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) layup.

 The Tigers continued to flex their offensive muscles in the opening minutes of the second half after Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) nailed a deep 3-pointer to give DWU a 17-point lead.

 The Bobcats (7-6) attempted to put together a run halfway through the second half, but eventually fell short thanks to strong free-throw shooting late in the game.

 The Tigers finished with all five starters scoring double-digits as Spicer led the charge with 27 points and seven rebounds. Hoglund added 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Vandeberg and Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) each tallied 16 points and six assists. Drury rounded out the starters with 11 points and four rebounds.

 DWU shot 53 percent from the field while shooting 83 percent from the free-throw line. They also finished with 29 rebounds and 20 assists on the night.

 The Tigers take the court against in-state rival, Dakota State University at 8 p.m. tonight at the Corn Palace in the Mike Miller Classic in Mitchell.