Photo Credit: Destiny Soto
Posted: Jan 26, 2022
Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball was unable to tame the late push from Dordt at home, suffering their second loss in the Corn Palace this season. The Tigers and Defenders were only percentages apart in shooting from beyond the arc and at the foul line in the game.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 73 – DOR 80
Records:
DWU 9-12 Overall (GPAC 6-8)
DOR 15-7 Overall (GPAC 7-6)
How It Happened
- The first ten minutes of the game were back and forth as neither DWU nor Dort could get a lead larger than six points.
- Ace Zorr brought the Tigers within one point of the lead with 9:12 remaining in the first half as the Defenders still led the game 21-20.
- After a two-minute scoring drought, Mason Larson put Dakota Wesleyan ahead 23-21 after a made three.
- A few minutes later, Jeffrey Schuch collected on a shot beyond the arc, pushing the DWU lead to four points, 28-24.
- Dordt responded with back-to-back baskets tying the game at 28-28, then Nick Wittler joined the trade of shots beyond the arc to regain the lead 31-28.
- In the final minute of the first half, the Defenders dropped another three-pointer as they trailed the Tigers 36-33 at the half.
- Starting the second half, Dakota Wesleyan began with a 5-0 run ending with a dunk that rocked the Corn Palace, forcing a Defenders timeout.
- Proceeding the 30-second Dordt timeout, the Defenders went on a 7-0 run cutting the Tigers lead to one point 41-40 that forced a Tigers timeout from Coach Wilber.
- Dordt kept the game close through the first part of the second half, but DWU; was able to go down the floor and take the lead back each time.
- The Defenders took their first lead in the second half with eight minutes remaining after a few missed shots from the Tigers.
- DWU came close to taking the lead back after that after Zorr made a basket, cutting the Dordt lead to one point, 59-58.
- A late push from DWU wasn't enough though as missed shots down the stretch only hurt them.
- Dordt handed the Tigers their second loss at home 80-73.
- Dakota Wesleyan shot 46.9% from the floor, 33.3% beyond the arc, and 71.4% at the foul line.
- Dordt was held to shooting 53.7% from the field, 31.3% from distance, and converted on 70.8% of their free throw opportunities.
- The Defenders outrebounded the Tigers 30-29 in the game.
- Both the Tigers and Dordt tallied 11 turnovers, four-second chance points, and 28 points in the paint.
Beyond The Results
- Jeffrey Schuch: 16 points, 66.6 FG%, 66.6 3-pt%, 100 FT%, three rebounds, and four assists
- Koln Oppold: 15 points, 46.6 FG%, six rebounds, and five assists
- Teegan Evers: 12 points, 50 FG%, 33.3 3-pt%, 1-for-1 free-throw shooting, and four rebounds
- Ace Zorr: 12 points, 62.5 FG%, 50 FT%, six rebounds, and three blocks
- Nick Wittler: Ten points, 36.3 FG%, 28.5 3-pt%, and two assists
Up Next
Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball is back on the road this weekend. The Tigers travel to Sioux City, Iowa to take on No. 25 Briar Cliff. The Tigers and Chargers will tip-off at 3:45 p.m. for the Tigers second to last road game of the regular season.
