TIGER MEN’S BASKETBALL PULLS OUT THE OVERTIME THRILLER AT HOME

Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball earned the tough win at home Wednesday night against Midland in a back-and-forth game from the Corn Palace. The Tigers and Warriors were near even on field goal and free throw percentages.

The Quick Details

Score:

DWU 79 – MU 76 OT

Records:

DWU 7-10 Overall (GPAC 4-6)

MU 14-6 Overall (GPAC 5-5)

How it Happened

• Midland got out to a fast 3-0 lead less than a minute into the game, but it was short-lived as the Tigers flipped the score in their favor with a 7-3 lead.
• After a Warriors timeout, Midland put together a 5-2 run cutting the DWU lead to one point, 9-8.
• Midland collected on a shot from deep with 11:28 remaining in the first half, tying the game at 11.
• Dakota Wesleyan and the Warriors were knotted at 11 each for just under three minutes of game time before Jeffrey Schuch was fouled and converted on both free throws for the two-point lead.
• After a Midland three-pointer, they gained their largest lead over DWU with a 21-15 advantage as we headed into the final five minutes of the opening half.
• After big baskets from Blaze Lubbers, Mason Larson, and Nick Wittler it was back to a one-point game with one minute remaining before the break.
• Kallan Herman put the Tigers on top 32-29 with 29-seconds left before Ryan Larsen on Midland hit a shot beyond the arc, tying the game at 32-32 heading into halftime.
• The Warriors came out to start the second half of regulation with four quick points and the 36-32 lead.
• The Warriors held DWU at bay for nearly the first eight minutes until Wittler collected another three-pointer and the 40-39 lead.
• In the last ten minutes of regulation, both teams continued to stay neck-and-neck.
• Larson gave the Tigers a 57-52 lead with five minutes left in the second half that forced a Midland timeout.
• As DWU and MU headed into the final 90-seconds and tied at 63-63, Lubbers picked up a massive two points for the 65-63 lead.
• In the final 15-seconds of regulation Midland converted on two free throws to tie the game.
• Heading into the overtime, both the Tigers and Warriors went shot-for-shot through the first two minutes.
• After a Warrior's three-pointer and the 70-67 lead; Larson hit a shot from beyond the arc of his own tying the game at 70-70 once again.
• Midland went down the floor for two points, the Tigers next trip down the court, Koln Oppold converted on two free throws keeping the game tied at 72-72.
• With 1:12 remaining in overtime, Midlands' Bo Sandquist missed a shot from deep that opened the door for the Tigers to take the lead heading into the final 60-seconds.
• Schuch connected with Oppold beyond the arc for another big shot and the 75-72 lead.
• Six seconds remaining in overtime, the Warriors picked up two points off two free throw attempts, cutting the Tigers lead to 77-76.
• Teegan Evers closed the door on Midland with two-seconds remaining after making back-to-back free throws as DWU picked up the win 79-76 overtime win against the Warriors.
• Both Dakota Wesleyan and Midland were near equal on field goal percentage; the Tigers shot 45.8% from the floor as the Warriors shot 45.3% from the field.
• Beyond the arc, DWU shot 27.6% while Midland went 9-of-21, shooting 42.9% from distance.
• The Tigers made 17-of-21 free throws clipping an 81.0 free throw percentage
• DWU received the upper hand on the boards, out-rebounding MU 33-27.
• Both teams were credited with six turnovers as the Tigers were able to earn eight points off those turnovers compared to the six points Midland earned off turnovers.
• Dakota Wesleyan also outscored the Warriors in the paint 32-22 and 9-4 on second-chance points.
• The overtime thriller had 16 ties and 12 lead changes over the 45-minutes of game time.

Beyond the Results

• Jeffrey Schuch: 20 points, 58.3 FG%, 75 FT%, six rebounds, and five assists
• Koln Oppold: 16 points, 40 FG%, 25 3-pt%, 7-of-7 free throw shooting, six rebounds, five assists, and one block
• Nick Wittler: 13 points, 41.6 FG%, 2-of-7 beyond the arc, 1-of-1 free throw shooting, four rebounds
• Mason Larson: 11 points, 44.4 FG%, 40 3-pt%, 1-of-1 free throw shooting, five rebounds, two assists, and one block
• Blaze Lubbers: Nine points, 50 FG%, and five rebounds

Up Next

Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball is back in action on Sunday, January 16. The Tigers will face off with the Lancers of Mount Marty for a "Pink the Palace" game. DWU and MMU will tip-off at 3:45 p.m. from the Corn Palace.