La Crosse, Wis. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball earned the win tonight from Wisconsin as Kallan Herman, Blaze Lubbers, Jakob Dobney, and Diang Gatluak all score in double digits, while Gatluak records a double-double and Koln Oppold dishes out 11 assists.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 78 – VU 75
Records:
DWU 7-7
VU 7-7
How It Happened
The long road trip to the west edge of Wisconsin didn't bother the Tigers this evening as they opened the scoring with a shot from deep from Lubbers. After Viterbo connected on shots in consecutive trips down the floor, The Tigers did the same, but it resulted in them leading by four-points after Dobney hit a shot from deep assisted by Oppold with 16:42 to play in the first half. Seconds after the basket from Dobney, the V-Hawks turned the ball over and fouled Herman, sending him to the line for a pair of shots, he was able to convert on both to push the Tigers lead out to six points at 10-4. After that, DWU went on a short 5-2 run pushing their lead out a little more, to lead 15-6 with just under 15-minutes to play in the first half. Just a few minutes later, D'Andre Dennis looked to push the DWU lead back out to seven points on a three-point shot attempt, but it didn't fall as the V-Hawks looked to close the margin. While Viterbo was scoreless on their trip down the floor, Nick Wittler hit a shot beyond the arc for the 20-13 lead. After a media timeout at the 10-minuet mark, and line changes from both the Tigers and V-Hawks, Dobney entered the game again to quickly make a triple beyond the arc for a 23-15 lead. With under four and a half minutes to play in the first half, the V-Hawks grabbed their first lead of the game at 32-31 after making back-to-back shots. Lubbers tied the game at 32-32. After multiple ties and lead changes, the Tigers headed into halftime leading 38-35 and shooting 36.8% from the floor, 35% beyond the arc, and 75% at the foul line.
Dakota Wesleyan came out in the second half on fire. Three of the Tigers first four shots to start the second half, were from beyond the arc, rocketing them to a 12-point lead early, 49-37. DWU continued to shoot well through the first five and a half minutes of the second half when the Tigers called for a timeout leading 52-45. As the midway point of the second half came around, the Tigers were leading 64-53. Gatluak kept the DWU lead at nine points with seven minutes to play on a shot beyond the arc, before Lubbers hit a layup for the 11-point lead at 69-58 with six-minutes to play. Dakota Wesleyan was unable to shut the door on Viterbo as they went on a 10-0 run tying the game with 2:36 to play in regulation. The Tigers grabbed the two-point lead after Lubbers converted on a pair of free throws with two-minutes to play. The V-Hawks knotted the game again at 71-71 just seconds after, but the Tigers and Oppold made a jump shot to go ahead 73-71 with a minute and 20-seconds to go. Dobney hit another shot beyond the arc with 39-seconds to play giving the Tigers a five-point lead as Viterbo called timeout. The V-Hawks made a layup with 24-seconds to play, cutting the margin to three points, followed by a free throw with six-seconds to play as they now trailed the Tigers by two, forcing DWU to call timeout. Viterbo made their second of two free throws after the DWU timeout climbing within one point, 76-75; but their final shot beyond the arc didn't fall and the last second foul from Viterbo sent Herman to the line where he converted on both shots for the 78-75 win.
Overall, the Tigers were outshoot in the game, 49.1% to 43.1% from the floor, but the Tigers shot 41.7% beyond the arc compared to the V-Hawks who shot 37.5% from deep. DWU made 70% of their foul shots, while grabbing 42 rebounds, 13 points off turnovers, 14 second chance points, and 26 points in the paint. Oppold tallied a new career high in assists with 11. Herman netted a new career high with 25 points and five made three-point shots. Lubbers also recorded a new career high in points with 21.
Beyond the Results
- Kallan Herman: 25 points, 50 FG%, 50 3-pt%, 80 FT%, and two rebounds
- Blaze Lubbers: 21 points, 66.6 FG%, 66.6 3-pt%, 75 FT%, and six rebounds
- Jakob Dobney: 15 points, 41.6 FG%, 45.4 3-pt%, six rebounds, and three assists
- Diang Gatluak: 12 points, 62.5 FG%, 66.6 3-pt%, and 11 rebounds
- Koln Oppold: seven rebounds, and 11 assists
Up Next
The Tigers are back in action again on January 4, but this time they are back at home! The Tigers will kick off 2023 with a GPAC match up against the Chargers of Briar Cliff. The Tigers and Chargers will tip-off at 7:45 p.m. after the conclusion of the women's game.