Tigers, Mustangs clash for conference lead

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team squares off with No. 7 Morningside College in Great Plains Athletic Conference action on Wednesday at 8 p.m. from Rosen-Verdoorn Sports Center in Sioux City, Iowa. Wednesday's matchup will feature the top two teams both defensively and overall, in the GPAC, as Dakota Wesleyan and Morningside have combined for just one conference loss sitting atop the GPAC standings.

 The Tigers (9-1, 6-0) extended their winning streak to nine games after a 2-0 sweep in conference a week ago. On Wednesday, DWU defeated (RV) Northwestern College by a score of 82-76 from the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D. In Saturday's contest, DWU handled Mount Marty University defeating the Lancers 78-66 in Yankton, S.D.

 No. 7 Morningside College enters the matchup on a hot streak as well having won eight straight with its only loss of the season to University of Jamestown. A week ago, the Mustangs (10-1, 6-1 GPAC) cruised to an 18-point victory over Briar Cliff University on the road. On Saturday, Morningside walloped Concordia University, 86-64 in Sioux City, Iowa, as the Mustangs outscored Concordia by 13 points in the second half after holding a nine-point lead at the intermission.

 Under the direction of head coach Jim Sykes, Morningside is limiting opponents to 67.6 points per game. The Mustangs are currently shooting 50.2% from the field while holding opposing teams to 43.1% shooting.

 Meanwhile, Dakota Wesleyan holds teams to 68 points an outing while shooting 46.7%. The Tigers are sixth nationally in total blocks tallying 46 thus far, while opponents are shooting 42.1% from the field.

 Senior Trey Brown currently sits third on the conference leaderboards in total rebounds tallying 104 on the season and collects 9.5 rebounds per contest. Offensively, Brown also leads the Mustangs in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game while shooting 63.3% from the field. Other scorers averaging double figures are Zach Imig and Will Pottebaum at 11.5 and 11.1 points per game, respectively.

 For DWU, senior Nick Harden has been an offensive catalyst for head coach Matt Wilber's squad tallying 16.8 points and five assists per game. Needing just 20 more points to clinch 1,000 career points, the Chicago, Ill., native ranks fifth in the GPAC in scoring per game and leads the conference in assists per outing. Fellow Tiger Mason Larson recorded a career-high 29 points in Saturday's win over Mount Marty and ranks fourth nationally in total blocks with 17 on the season.

 Home teams owned the series a season go, as Morningside came away with a 74-60 win over DWU in Sioux City, Iowa. However, the Tigers notched an upset victory over the top-rated Mustangs, 78-75 one month later at the Corn Palace.