Yankton, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball made a good push in the second half to overcome their eight-point deficit at the half, but it wasn't enough to earn them the win over the Lancers of Mount Marty.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 65 – MMU 71
Records:
DWU 2-5 (GPAC 1-2)
MMU 4-5 (GPAC 1-3)
How It Happened
Both teams struggled right away to find their rhythm, as it took over three minutes for the first points. After the baskets started falling, the Tigers were on the wrong end of the score; trailing 5-0 before Alan Kikwaki hit a shot beyond the arc for the first points from DWU. Koln Oppold tied the game at 5-5 shortly after with a layup, but the Lancers hit their shot on the opposite end of the floor regaining the lead by two points. After a handful of missed shots from the Tigers and a timeout, Kallan Herman connected on a three-pointer after a four-minute dry spell as DWU now trailed MMU, 13-8. The Lancers continued to make shots quickly turning their five-point lead, into a 10-point lead, 20-10 forcing a full timeout from the Tigers with seven and a half minutes to play. Oppold cut the margin to six points after back-to-back baskets with 45-seconds left in the first, but the Tigers still trailed 20-26 before Mount Marty hit a shot with two-seconds left pushing their lead to 28-20 heading into halftime.
The Lancers shot well right from the start of the second half, pushing their lead out to nine before the Tigers cut it back to a five-point margin as Oppold made both free throw shots and Herman hit the jump shot. Blaze Lubbers put DWU within four-points of tying the game after making one-of-two free throws. D'Andre Dennis followed suit after MMU's layup keeping the margin at four point, 40-36 with just over 12-minutes to play. Jakob Dobney made a pair of baskets on two trips down the floor, cutting the Lancers lead even more as the Tigers now only trailed by two-points, 45-43 with ten-minutes to play. DWU's two-point deficit was short lived down the stretch as MMU continued hitting shots when the Tigers could not. DWU was able to climb back into the game with two and a half minutes to play, after Kikwaki made a layup bringing the Tigers within eight-points, 59-51 as the Lancers called for a 30-second timeout. With 2:17 remaining in the game, Mount Marty was called for a technical foul as Herman stepped to the line for the two shots. Herman made both technical foul shots, bringing DWU even closer to tying the game as they now only trailed by six-points. The Lancers turned around making both of their bonus shots , but it was evened out at Oppold made a layup on the Tigers next trip down the floor. With just under 90-seconds to play, Herman hit another shot from deep, as DWU looked to complete the come back now only trailing by four, 64-60. As the final minute of play loomed, the Tigers were able to hang with the Lancers, but it wasn't quite enough to complete the come from behind win.
In the game, DWU shot 34.8% from the floor, 24.1% beyond the arc, and 71.4% at the foul line. The Tigers outrebounded the Lancers 38-36 and in scoring second chance points, 10-8. Dakota Wesleyan forced 13 Lancer turnovers, scoring six points off those turnovers. The DWU bench chipped in with 27 points, compared to MMU's bench chipping in with 16 points.
Beyond The Results
- Kallan Herman: 21 points, 42.8 FG%, 37.5 3-pt%, and 100 FT%
- Koln Oppold: 19 points, 1-of-2 beyond the arc, 2-of-2 at the foul line, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks
- Blaze Lubbers: 12 rebounds
Up Next
Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball is off for a week as they look to rest up over the Thanksgiving break. The Tigers will finish up their month-long road trip on Wednesday from Madison, S.D. when they tip-off at 7 p.m. against the Trojans of Dakota State.