Strong second half leads DWU to victory

CRETE, Neb. – It was a second-half surge that saw the No. 10 Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team shoot 68.2% from the field and hold Doane University to under 30% shooting from the field, as DWU came away victorious, 79-64 Saturday in Crete, Neb.

 The game opened in the favor of DWU (20-7, 12-6 GPAC) as Collin Kramer (Volga, S.D.) and Mason Larson (Langford, S.D.) buried 3-pointers.

 However, Doane (7-21, 2-16 GPAC) responded with a 12-0 run to take a 12-6 lead after six minutes of play.

 After a DWU timeout, Jeffrey Schuch (Dell Rapids, S.D.) scored six-consecutive points to keep DWU within striking distance. But Doane knocked down a 3-pointer and a layup to hold a 19-12 lead midway through the half.

 Moments later, Schuch and Koln Oppold (Sioux Falls, S.D.) combined for five points to pull DWU within two points. Doane answered again with a 10-4 run to push its' lead to eight points.

 Following another timeout, Ty Hoglund (Dell Rapids, S.D.) made a layup, which was the only points scored for two and a half minutes.

 After Doane knocked down a 3-pointer, Samuel McCloud (Rapid City, S.D.) buried one of his own. McCloud connected on another shot from downtown to bring DWU within three points at halftime.

 McCloud kicked off the second half the same way he ended the first, as he tied the game following a 3-pointer. A 15-5 run by DWU gave them a 48-41 lead after five minutes of play, forcing a Doane timeout.

 After the timeout, DWU went on another run, this time putting together an 8-2 spurt that was capped off with a McCloud 3-pointer.

 Doane made a push midway through the half as they cut the DWU lead to single digits. But Hoglund and Oppold combined for eight-straight points to push the lead back to 15 points.

 After Doane took a timeout with 5:30 to play, Hoglund knocked down a 3-pointer and McCloud made his sixth 3-pointer of the night to push DWU to victory.

 Larson paced DWU with 19 points and four blocks, as Hoglund and McCloud added 18 points apiece. DWU shot 53.8% from the field, as Doane notched 36.5% from the field.

 The Tigers host Northwestern College at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace.