DWU holds off Concordia in GPAC bout

SEWARD, Neb. – The No. 18 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team picked up a crucial road win over Concordia University with a 68-63 victory in Great Plains Athletic Conference action Saturday in Seward, Neb.

 Concordia jumped on the scoreboard first with the first two baskets of the game. The Tigers (19-8, 12-7 GPAC) tied the game moments later, thanks to baskets by Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) and Aaron Ahmadu (Houston, Texas).

 The Bulldogs (14-15, 6-13 GPAC) regained the lead with three-straight baskets. Both teams made 3-point baskets on their next possessions to make it a 13-7 game with Concordia leading.

 Hoglund pulled DWU within four points with a basket. Neither team made a field goal over the next six minutes, until freshman Mason Larson (Langford, S.D.) nailed a 3-pointer to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.

 Concordia regained the lead with a 3-point shot with 6:29 left in the first half. The Tigers picked up the intensity on the defensive end as they did not allow another point in the final 6:29 of the half. DWU went on a 15-0 run to close the first half, holding a 29-16 lead at intermission.

 Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) began the second half with a 3-pointer to push the lead to 16 points. Larson extended the lead with consecutive 3-point shots of his own on the next two possessions.

 With 13:48 left, Hoglund sliced his way to the hoop for the basket to give the Tigers a 20-point lead. Midway through the second half, Concordia began to chip away at the DWU lead with a quick 7-1 run.

 A flurry of 3-point baskets by the Bulldogs cut the Tiger lead to seven points with under seven minutes to play. Hoglund put an end to the run with a basket of his own, extending the lead back to nine points.

 The Bulldogs would not go away as they connected on a 3-point basket with 37 seconds to play, making it a five-point contest. However, free throws by Ahmadu and Hoglund down the stretch put the game away as DWU secured its' 19^th win of the season.

 Hoglund led all scorers with 28 points and six rebounds, as Larson tallied a season-high 14 points and 13 rebounds. Kramer poured in 14 points and four assists, while Ahmadu notched 12 points and five assists. DWU shot 37.7 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from 3-point range.

 The Tigers remain on the road against Valley City State University at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Valley City, N.D.