DWU MEN’S BASKEBTALL SURVIVES THE LATE PUSH BY THE WARRIORS TO STAY PERFECT AT HOME
Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball had a ten-point lead at the half, shooting 35.9% from the floor and 30.8% beyond the arc. Despite the Tigers not earning a single point off the bench in the game, it was the free throws that made the difference with DWU making 10-of-19 from the line, while the Warriors only made 1-of-5 foul shots in the game.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 74 – MID 68
Records:
DWU 9-8 (GPAC 5-4)
MID 7-11 (GPAC 1-9)
How It Happened
The Tigers got off and running in the midweek match up, opening the scoring with back-to-back three-point shots on consecutive trips down the floor. Koln Oppold and Diang Gatluak each added two more points shortly after, forcing Midland to call for their first 30-second timeout after only four minutes and 10-seconds and trailing DWU 10-0. The Tigers added one more point with 14:25 to play in the first half before Midland got on the board for the first time with 14-minutes to go. Dakota Wesleyan continued to play strong on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, as they were shooting well beyond the arc, and dominate on the boards early. With 11-minutes to play in the first half the Warriors closed the margin to three points after a shot beyond the arc. Kallan Herman set the Tigers up by ten, 30-20 for the first time with just under four-minutes to play after a basket beyond the arc. Gatluak made the final field goal for the Tigers before halftime, hitting a shot from deep giving the Tigers their 37-27 lead at half time.
Blaze Lubbers got DWU rolling in the second half collecting five points within two-minutes of play, pushing the margin out to 42-29. Gatluak added two more points after just four and a half minutes into the second half, giving the Tigers a 44-29 lead making Midland call for their first full timeout of the second half. Midland was starting to close the margin to nine points as the 10-minute mark got close. After the first DWU timeout of the half, the Warriors quickly put up 11-points and jumped within one possession of tying the game with 6:25 to play at 59-58 DWU still leading. Koln Oppold made a layup shortly after giving them a three-point lead, but Midland tied things up at 61-61 just 15-seconds later with a basket beyond the arc and 4:41 to play. Oppold converted on both free throws after he was fouled pushing the lead back out to two points, 63-61 followed by a DWU timeout. Once play resumed, Herman pushed the lead out to five-points with a shot from deep and three-minutes to play. The Tigers final field goal of the game was with one minute to play from the hands of Jakob Dobney beyond the arc for a seven point lead, 70-63. The remaining four points for the Tigers were all from the free throw line as Midland made two more field goals in the game.
Overall, DWU shot 40.6% from the floor, 33.3% beyond the arc, and 52.6% at the foul line. The Tigers grabbed 49 rebounds, six points off nine Warrior turnovers, nine second chance points, and 24 fastbreak points. Dakota Wesleyan held Midland to shooting 40% from the floor, 34.4% from distance, and 20% at the free throw line. The Tigers bench was silent tonight, but the starting five in Oppold, Lubbers, Dobney, Herman, and Gatluak all scored in double-digits; Oppold, Lubbers, and Gatluak all recorded double-doubles in the game.
Beyond the Results
- Diang Gatluak: 18 points, 50 FG%, 40 3-pt%, 50 FT%, and 11 rebounds
- Koln Oppold: 17 points, 41.1 FG%, 75 FT%, 10 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks
- Kallan Herman: 16 points, 41.6 FG%, and 50 3-pt%
- Blaze Lubbers: 13 points, 45.4 FG%,37.5 3-pt%, 10 rebounds, and four assists
- Jakob Dobney: 10 points, 60 FG%, 60 3-pt%, and six rebounds
Up Next
Tiger men's basketball is back in action from home again on Sunday, January 15 for Alumni Day. DWU will square off against the Lancers of Mount Marty at 3:45 p.m. from the Corn Palace.