No. 17 Tigers hold their own against Coyotes

VERMILLION, S.D. – In their second game in two days, the No. 17 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team took on NCAA Division I foe, University of South Dakota in an exhibition game. Despite a strong first half, DWU fell to USD, 77-61 Tuesday night in Vermillion, S.D.

 Aaron Ahmadu (Houston, Texas) got DWU on the scoreboard within the opening minute of the game with a layup to take an early 2-0 lead. After trailing 9-4, the Tigers strung together an 11-0 run to take a 15-9 lead with 12:18 left in the half.

 However, the Coyotes answered back with a 7-0 run of their own to take a 16-15 lead. With under six minutes to play, USD led by four points, but DWU regained the lead thanks to a jump shot and pair of free throws by Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) and a layup by Ahmadu.

 After USD tied the game moments later, Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.) nailed a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 28-25 lead. A minute later, Hoglund knocked in a shot from beyond the arc to extend the DWU lead to four points. The Tigers held onto a 33-31 lead as the teams headed into halftime.

 In the opening minutes of the second half, Hoglund found McCloud behind the 3-point line as he sank another deep shot to give the Tigers a 38-35 lead.

 USD took its first lead of the second half after four minutes into the stanza with a 3-pointer to take a 40-38 lead. The Coyotes continued to build on their lead, taking a 51-40 lead with 12:33 left to play.

 Nick Harden (Chicago, Ill.) stopped the USD run with a layup. But, the score was too late as the Coyotes went on to win the exhibition contest.

 Hoglund led DWU with 18 points and four rebounds, as McCloud tallied 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from 3-point range along with seven rebounds. Harden chipped in eight points and six rebounds, while freshman Koln Oppold (Sioux Falls, S.D.) notched seven points.

 DWU finished the game shooting 30.9 percent from the field and 25.7 percent from 3-point range. The Tigers grabbed 40 rebounds to 54 by the Coyotes and DWU outscored USD in bench points, 19-10.

 The Tigers return to action against in-state rival Dakota State University at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.