No. 17 DWU pulls away from Trojans

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team continued their winning ways Saturday against in-state rival Dakota State University with a 77-65 victory at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.

 The Trojans (0-3) got off to a hot start as they took an early 6-0 lead. However, 3-pointers by Samuel McCloud (Rapid, City, S.D.) and Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) knotted the game at six apiece.

 DWU took its' first lead of the contest with 14:30 to play in the first half as Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) found the bottom of the net on a layup to take an 11-10 lead.

 Moments later, Nick Harden (Chicago, Ill.) joined the scoring action as he tallied five-straight points for the Tigers (2-0) to give them a 16-12 cushion. Midway through the half, Kramer found Nate Davis (Watertown, S.D.) open beyond the arc who connected on the 3-pointer to give DWU its' biggest lead of the game.

 As DSU pulled within three points, Aaron Ahmadu (Houston, Texas) sank two free throws in the final minute of the half to give the Tigers a 36-31 lead at intermission.

 Hoglund sparked the DWU offense in the first minute of the second half with a 3-pointer to extend the lead to eight points. But, the Trojans would not go away quietly as they pulled within two points following a 3-pointer midway through the second half.

 Just as Hoglund made a layup to give DWU a 10-point lead, the Trojans came storming back once more to pull within four points with 3:16 to play. However, a Hoglund 3-pointer with 1:14 left to push the lead to 12 points was enough for the Tigers to come away victorious at the Sanford Pentagon.

 Hoglund led all scorers with 22 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc, as McCloud notched a career-high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range. Davis chipped in 12 points and four rebounds off the bench, while Harden tallied 11 points, five assists and four rebounds. The Tigers shot 48.2 percent from the field and 43.3 percent from 3-point range in the contest.

 DWU takes on Presentation College at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.