Tigers, Bulldogs vie for GPAC Championship

MITCHELL, S.D. – It has been 10 years since the Corn Palace and the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team have been privileged to host the Great Plains Athletic Conference championship game. The privilege returns tonight as the second-seeded Tigers host fourth-seeded Concordia University for the GPAC title game at 7 p.m. in the Corn Palace.

 The 2019-20 season has been anything except what Tiger fans are accustomed to seeing in recent years. With a high-flying offense that averaged 87 points per game a season ago, it's been a tale of the defense this year.

 Despite only scoring 78.1 points per game this season, the Tiger defense has shut teams down by only allowing 68.5 points per contest, good for sixth nationally. Less than a week ago, DWU held Mount Marty College to its' season-low in scoring with just 62 points in the GPAC semifinal contest. The Lancers had averaged 85.3 points per game up to that point.

 Leading the team on the defensive end include Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.) and Mason Larson (Langford, S.D.). McCloud leads the team with 1.4 steals per game, while Larson has recorded 34 blocks on the year, including four blocks on Saturday.

 Although the Tigers have relied on their defense, they are averaging 88 points per game in the GPAC Tournament. Leading the charge for the Tiger offense in the tournament has been Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.). He has tallied a pair of 33-point games in the tournament, while averaging 23 points per game on the season. Hoglund also leads the team with 3.1 assists per contest.

 For the Bulldogs of Concordia, this is their first trip to the GPAC championship game since 2005 when they defeated the University of Sioux Falls.

 In the previous two matchups between DWU and Concordia, the Tigers came away with a 77-57 win in Seward, Neb., and a 71-50 victory in Mitchell. The two games have been the lowest scoring games for the Bulldogs in GPAC play this season.

 Despite down performances by the Bulldogs the last two times these teams have played, Concordia has reeled off six consecutive wins and are averaging 86 points per game over that span. Leading the team has been Brevin Sloup, who leads the team with 16.1 points per game. He poured in 13 points in their victory over Hastings College on Saturday. The Bulldogs rank fifth nationally with 358 made 3-pointers this season and check in at sixth with 11.2 made 3-pointers per game.

 The 2020 NAIA Division II National Championship brackets will be announced at 5 p.m. tomorrow. The national tournament will be held from March 11-17 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.