DWU prepared to make run in fourth-consecutive tournament appearance

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team battled down the stretch to earn themselves their fourth-straight trip to the 2018 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship. The Tigers racked up 22 wins this year, which is the fourth-consecutive year with 20 or more wins in a season.

 DWU began the season ranked No. 10 in the Coaches' Preseason Top-25 Poll and won its first four games of the year. But, the Tigers hit a three-game losing skid in November, but bounced back as they reeled off 11 wins in 13 games.

 The Tigers began the month of February with a road victory over then-No. 4 Briar Cliff University, 88-73. In the next game, DWU dropped a heartbreaker to then-No. 10 Morningside College on a last-second layup, 84-83. However, the Tigers rallied to defeat then-No. 10 Northwestern College at the Corn Palace to finish the home regular season schedule, 85-69.

 The Tigers won four out of their last five games, including a Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinal win versus Hastings College to lock up another trip to the NAIA Division II National Tournament. This tournament might feel more at home for the Tigers. The last three seasons, DWU headed south to Branson, Mo. This year, the Tigers will make the 70-mile trip to Sioux Falls, S.D., where they will play at the Sanford Pentagon.

 DWU is looking to make a deep run in this year's tournament after losing in the first round of last year's tournament to the College of Idaho 98-93. The Tigers bring back many players from that game last year and will bring that experience to this year's tournament in Sioux Falls. The Tigers begin the tournament Thursday, as the No. 5 seed and take on No. 4 seed Governors State (Ill.) in the first round. The meeting is the first ever between the two schools.

 Senior forward Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) has been consistent throughout the 2017-18 campaign. Spicer is averaging 18.9 points per game while also leading the team in rebounding and assists with 5.7 rebounds per game and a total of 180 assists this year. Spicer was named to the All-GPAC First Team this season.

 Joining Spicer on All-GPAC First Team was sophomore Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.). Hoglund tallied 18.8 points per game this year while dealing with an injury in the last month of the season. Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) also had a solid year for the Tigers averaging 15.5 points per game and five rebounds a game and was named to All-GPAC Second Team.

 Nygel Duruy (Madison, Wis.) has had a strong season for the Tigers starting all 32 games and averaging 10.7 points per game. He was named to the All-GPAC Honorable Mention Team. Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.)  has increased his role with Hoglund's injury and has been inserted into the starting lineup down the stretch this season adding many different looks to this team. Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) has added a rebounding force to the Tiger lineup. He is averaging 5.5 rebounds per game, while chipping in 6.9 points per game. 

 About Governors State: 

 Record: 25-8

 NAIA Bid: Automatic bid, Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Champions

 The Jaguars received an automatic bid into the National Tournament by way of winning their conference tournament. They finished the season with an 18-2 record in conference play. Governors State is a defensive minded team as they lead the NAIA in blocks per at with 4.8, and are second nationally with 159 total blocks this season. They rank seventh nationally in turnover margin at 4.4. The Jaguars are led by senior forward Jalen Miller who was named the CCAC Player of the Year. He is second on the team with 15.5 points per game, 6.1 rebound per game and 2.1 assists per game. Robbie Brooks leads the team with 16.1 points per game, averages 4.2 rebounds per game and 1.6 assists per game.