Balanced attack leads No. 6 DWU over Midland

MITCHELL, S.D. – Over the final eight minutes of the game, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team went on a 19-8 run to put Midland University away with a final score of 85-65 in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.

 The Tigers (4-0, 2-0 GPAC) got off to a hot start as Nick Harden (Chicago, Ill.) made a jump shot, followed by a Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) 3-point basket.

 After five minutes of play, the Warriors (2-4, 0-2 GPAC) held a 6-5 lead after going on a 6-0 run. However, an emphatic dunk by Kramer handed the lead back to DWU. But Midland built its' lead to a 17-14 advantage midway through the half.

 Harden tied the game after being fouled on a layup and making the following free throw. Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) and Koln Oppold (Sioux Falls, S.D.) each knocked down 3-point shots that forced a Midland timeout.

 After the Warriors cut the DWU lead to single digits, Kramer and Hoglund nailed consecutive 3-point baskets to push the lead back to 11 points. But, Midland kept pace with the Tigers as they only trailed, 42-33 at intermission.

 Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.) opened the second half with a deep shot from behind the arc. A few moments later he found nothing but net again to give the Tigers an eight-point lead.

 Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.) joined the three-point barrage as he made one of his own five minutes into the half. Hoglund scored five-straight points for DWU midway through the half with a 3-point basket and a layup to extend the Tiger lead back to double digits.

 With 8:48 to play, McCloud hit another shot from downtown, but it was answered by a 3-pointer by the Warriors to keep pace with the Tiger offense. 

 However, the Tigers erupted on both ends of the court to go on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to pull away down the stretch.

 All five starters scored in double figures as Hoglund tallied 23 points and six rebounds, while Smiley added 17 points and three assists. Harden finished with 15 points, six rebounds and four assists, as Kramer and McCloud poured in 12 points apiece. DWU shot 43.9 percent from the field and finished with 16 assists to just five Midland assists.

 The Tigers hit the road for their second top-25 road matchup of the season versus No. 16 University of Jamestown at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Jamestown, N.D.