Offense propels No. 18 Tigers past Lancers

MITCHELL, S.D. – With 11:30 remaining in the contest, the No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team found their offensive rhythm as they went on an 18-2 run on their way to defeating Great Plains Athletic Conference rival Mount Marty College, 94-63 Wednesday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

 Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) began the game with six-straight points for the Tigers (18-8, 8-6 GPAC) as they led early on, 6-3. However, the Lancers (5-19, 2-12 GPAC) grabbed the lead momentarily after making back-to-back 3-pointers.

 The Tigers answered with back-to-back three-point shots of their own by Nygel Drury (Madison, Wis.) and Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) to gain a 16-12 lead. DWU was able to build on its' lead after jumping out to a 22-14 lead thanks to a 9-2 spurt midway through the first half.

 Spicer began the second half similarly to the first half as he scored the first eight points for DWU as they led 49-38 after three minutes into the second half. Moments later, Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) nailed a 3-pointer followed by Vandeberg draining one of his own to propel the Tigers to a 57-41 lead.

 In the middle of their 18-2 run in the second half, the Tigers strung together 11-straight points capped off by a Drury dunk to take a 74-51 advantage. With 7:40 left to play, Vandeberg found himself open from beyond the arc and connected on a deep 3-pointer. Less than a minute later, he cut through the Mount Marty defense and scored the layup pushing the Tigers to victory.

 Vandeberg led the way with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Spicer recorded 26 points, five rebounds and three assists. Hoglund tallied 15 points, as Drury notched 11 points and seven rebounds and Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.) knocked in nine points. The Tigers shot 55 percent from the field, while holding the Lancers to 37 percent shooting. DWU also outscored Mount Marty in the paint, 52-20.

 The Tigers hit the road for a GPAC battle against Briar Cliff University at 4 p.m. Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa.