FAST START PUSHES TIGERS OVER TOP-SEED CHARGERS ON THE ROAD, 85-77

Sioux City, Iowa – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball jumped out to an 11-0 lead early into the game that helped push them into the GPAC men's basketball semifinal game on Saturday.

The Quick Details

Score:

DWU 85 – BCU 77

Records:

DWU 13-15 Overall

BCU 19-11 Overall

How It Happened

• After a quick 11-0 start from the Tigers, Briar Cliff hit their first shot of the game nearly four minutes in.
• Sawyer Schultz gave DWU a 27-9 lead with 11-minutes left in the first half.
• The Chargers began closing the Dakota Wesleyan lead after an 11-0 run forcing the Tigers to take a timeout with eight minutes left in the opening half.
• Nearing the three-minute mark, BCU came within four points of the Tigers 39-35 after converting on one of two free throws.
• Nick Wittler extended the DWU lead back to nine with 90-seconds remaining after making three shots from the charity stripe.
• Briar Cliff collected on a shot beyond the arc to close out the first 20-minutes of play and cut the Dakota Wesleyan lead to nine, 49-40 going into halftime.
• Four minutes into the start of the second half, BCU cut the DWU lead back to five points after a made field goal.
• As the Chargers continued to claw their way back into the game, the Tigers continued to find ways to hold onto the lead as Koln Oppold collected on a jumper for the 64-53 lead.
• Proceeding over a minute of scoreless basketball from either team, DWU called timeout with 10:18 left in regulation.
• Schultz hit a three-pointer with 5:40 remaining as the Tigers took a 13-point lead over the chargers 73-60.
• Ace Zorr followed Schultz's shot with a field goal of his own, pushing the DWU lead a 75-60 advantage.
• Dakota Wesleyan put their final points on the board as Mason Larson, Jeffrey Schuch, and Schultz all converted on a shot from the charity stripe to seal the game 85-77.
• Overall, DWU shot 56.9% from the floor, 50% beyond the arc, and 76.2% from the foul line.
• The Tigers held the Chargers to shooting 50% from the field and 35.7% from distance, as BCU converted on 11-of-12 free throws.
• DWU outrebounded BCU 29-20 as the Tigers scored eight-second chance points to the Chargers five.

Beyond The Results

• Sawyer Schultz: 25 points, 61.5 FG%, 50 3-pt%, 62.5 FT%, and six rebounds
• Nick Wittler: 22 points, 58.3 FG%, 80 3-pt%, and 4-of-4 free-throw shooting
• Jeffrey Schuch: 11 points, 44.4 FG%, 75 FT%, and 13 rebounds

Up Next

Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball will travel to Jamestown, N.D. on Saturday, February 26, to take on the Jimmies in the GPAC Semifinals. The Tigers and Jimmies will tip-off at 3 p.m. from the Harold Newman Arena.