Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball closes out their time in the Sunshine State with an upset win over (RV) Rochester after leading for nearly 37-minutes with a game that had six ties and only two lead changes.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 74 – (RV) RU 66
Records:
DWU 7-7
(RV) RU 10-3
How It Happened
Dakota Wesleyan was off and running early against the receiving votes team of Rochester University. Blaze Lubbers put the first points on the board for the Tigers right away with a three pointer on the assist from Jakob Dobney; while Koln Oppold followed it up on the next trip down the floor with a jumper to lead 5-0 after only three possessions. Rochester knotted the game at 5-5 just two possessions later, but the Tigers were able to come out in the following possessions with the lead. Alan Kikwaki got the bench on their feet just seconds after entering the game on a dunk and putting DWU ahead 13-10. With just under 12-minutes to play in the first half, Dakota Wesleyan gained their largest lead up to this point after Oppold made a jumper to lead by six points. RU climbed back into the game and erasing the six-point DWU lead; and tying the game several times in the later part of the first half. The Tigers continued finding a way to keep a possession or two ahead of Rochester, hitting key shots beyond the arc and several jump shots. Right before the halftime horn sounded, Herman gave the Tigers their largest lead of the first half at seven-points, but it was cut back to five points as RU hit their final shot of the first half and still trailed DWU 44-39.
DWU picked up in the second half where they left off, converting on their shots right away extending their lead to 50-44. Shortly after the DWU lead by six and a basket beyond the arc from RU cutting the margin to three points, Rochester called for a 30-second timeout with 15:25 to play in regulation. After line change like substitutions from both teams, Rochester closed their deficit to just one point at 52-51 with 14-minutes to play. Diang Gatluak converted on a layup and putting the Tigers ahead by three points, which started a 6-0 run from DWU that lasted three-minutes and resulted in a 58-51 DWU lead over RU with 10:35 to play. Rochester was able to close the margin once again with 7:20 to go on the clock; forcing head coach Matt Wilber to call for a full timeout. After only one basket from either team in the following minute and a half; the Tigers called for another full timeout leading 63-59. RU grabbed their first lead of the game with 3:41 left in regulation after a three-point shot, but the Tigers took it back shortly after Lubbers converted on both of his free throws, 67-66. After Dakota Wesleyan took their lead back with three minutes to play; the Tigers shut down any more scoring chances for Rochester before earning the upset win 74-66 to close out play in the 2022 Cruzin Classic.
Shooting from the field was under 50% for both teams, but the Tigers edged out RU, out shooting them 48.3% to 45%. Beyond the arc DWU shot 33.3% while making 10-of-13 free throws. Dakota Wesleyan grabbed a staggering 40 rebounds compared to the 25 boards Rochester was able to come down with. The Tigers forced seven turnovers and scored eight points off those turnovers; while RU forced nine DWU turnovers and scored six points off those turnovers. DWU tallied 36 points in the paint while the bench chipped in with 14 points.
Beyond the Results
- Kallan Herman: 23 points, 60 FG%, 50 3-pt%, 100 FT%, and one steal
- Blaze Lubbers: 15 points, 66.6 FG%, five rebounds, and one block
- Koln Oppold: 14 points, 41.6 FG%, 33.3 3-pt%, 100 FT%, 16 rebounds, and nine assists
Up Next
DWU men's basketball is back in action after the Christmas holiday, when they hit the road for the final game of the 2022 calendar year. The Tigers will travel to the land of the cheese on December 30 for a 4 p.m. tip-off in La Crosse, Wisconsin against the V-Hawks of Viterbo.