Tigers fall in double overtime thriller

MITCHELL, S.D. – With a spot in the Great Plains Athletic Conference title game on the line, it took two overtimes for the rivals to find a winner. Mount Marty University completed its second upset win of the week as they took down the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team 64-58 on Saturday at the Corn Palace.

 The Tigers (19-8) jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after a pair of Nick Harden (Chicago, Ill.) layups. The Lancers (11-16) responded with two quick layups to tie the game as the score was 4-4 after five minutes of play.

 After two free throws gave MMU its first lead of the game, Jeffrey Schuch (Dell Rapids, S.D.) knocked down a 3-pointer to return the lead to the Tigers. The Lancers answered with another layup, but Sawyer Schultz (Emery, S.D.) connected on a 3-point shot to give DWU a 10-8 lead.

 Mount Marty went on a quick 5-0 spurt to take a 13-10 advantage. Both teams went cold from the field as neither team scored for four minutes until Ace Zorr (Harrisburg, S.D.) made a layup.

 With under five minutes to play in the half, Schultz tied the game at 16, as Koln Oppold (Sioux Falls, S.D.) made a 3-pointer to give DWU a 19-16 lead.

 With 1:20 to go in the opening half, Oppold found Harden for a layup as he was fouled. He knocked down the ensuing free throw as that was the final points of the half with DWU holding a 24-20 lead.

 Drew Cole (Brookings, S.D.) opened the second-half scoring with a 3-pointer, thanks to an assist by Mason Larson (Langford, S.D.). Four minutes later, Mount Marty tied the game with a 3-pointer. However, Zorr made sure the score did not stay tied long as he scored six-straight points to push the DWU lead to 33-27.

 The teams traded baskets until a Lancer 3-pointer pulled them within two points. But Larson answered with a 3-pointer of his own to push the lead back to five points.

 After leading 44-40, Mount Marty went on a 5-0 run to take its first lead of the second half. However, Larson connected on another 3-pointer to give DWU the lead again.

 Harden knocked down a pair of free throws to put DWU up by four points. But the Lancers finished regulation on a 4-0 spurt to force overtime after a layup with 11 seconds left.

 The Tigers opened the first overtime with three Oppold free throws. After a Lancer free throw put them up by two points with a minute left, Larson tied the game with a tip-in with 14 seconds to play. His game-tying basket was enough to force a second overtime.

 Larson opened the second overtime with a 3-pointer, but that proved to be three of DWU's four points in the final five minutes. Mount Marty went on to score 10 points in the final overtime to steal the semifinal game.

 Larson led the team with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Schuch posted 13 rebounds and seven points. Harden added nine points and five steals, as Schultz came off the bench to tally 12 points.

 DWU shot 31.3% from the field and forced 17 Mount Marty turnovers. DWU also finished with 10 second-chance points to just two by the Lancers.

 The Tigers find out if their season continues during the NAIA selection show at 7 p.m. on Thursday.