Spicer and Tigers tame Presentation and Dakota State
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In an 86-69 victory over Presentation College on Saturday and a 94-69 win against in-state foe Dakota State University, senior Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) recorded 27 and 31 points, respectively, setting a new career-high in points against the Trojans on Sunday in the South Dakota NAIA Classic at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – In an 86-69 victory over Presentation College on Saturday and a 94-69 win against in-state foe Dakota State University, senior Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) recorded 27 and 31 points, respectively, setting a new career-high in points against the Trojans on Sunday in the South Dakota NAIA Classic at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Against the Saints, DWU scampered to an 11-point lead with 14:01 remaining in the first half off a layup by Spicer, but the Tiger shooting went cold until the 4:40 mark when Spicer and Tyson Smiley (Omaha, Neb.) added back-to-back layups to give DWU a 44-33 lead heading into the break.
The Tigers did most of their damage in the second half when Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) nailed a 3-pointer with 17 minutes remaining in the game. Shortly after, Spicer added back-to-back layups and Smiley sank a 3-pointer to put the Tigers up 61-47.
The Saints didn't go down without a fight, crawling back to a single-digit deficit with under seven minutes to play. However, newcomer Nygel Drury (Madison, Wis.) had other plans as he nailed two 3-pointers with a two minute span to keep PCU at bay.
The starting five for DWU tallied double-digit scoring as Spicer led the way, followed by 17 points from Hoglund. Smiley pitched in 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Drury and Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) had 12 points each.
In the victory over Dakota State, the Tigers had to work out of a jam early in the contest, trailing until 14:37-mark. The Tigers would go to the line 35 times and sink 34 free-throws including 16 in the first half.
Spicer went to work late in the first half after he tallied six points in under minute to put the Tigers ahead 32-24. After holding a 10-point lead for much of the first half, the Trojans cut the lead to eight points heading into the locker room.
Drury and Spicer made their presence known early in the second half on back-to-back layups, but it wasn't enough as DSU crawled back to a six-point deficit with 9:09 to play in the game.
With 5:24 to play, Hoglund hit a shot from the beyond the arc to give the Tigers an 11-point lead that ultimately put the Trojans in foul trouble. DWU would capitalize at the line, missing just one free throw in the entire game. Spicer was a perfect 15-of-15, tying the free-throw accuracy record with Jay Drake and Brady Wiebe.
Aside from Spicer's career-high 31-point performance, including eight rebounds and seven assists, Drury added 21 points, while Hoglund had 18 and Vandeberg tallied 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
The win over the Trojans marked the 100th victory for head coach Matt Wilber.
The Tigers (4-0) head north to battle future conference foe, the University of Jamestown at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Jamestown, N.D.
