Mitchell, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball played strong all game on both sides of the ball against the Raiders of Northwestern in another defensive driven game. Tigers had the chance to send the game into overtime, twice, with back-to-back three-point shots from Kallan Herman that just didn't fall in the final seconds of regulation.
The Quick Details
Score:
DWU 62 – NWC 65
Records:
DWU 12-13 (GPAC 8-9)
NWC 18-7 (GPAC 11-6)
How It Happened
Dakota Wesleyan got off to a slow start tonight against the Raiders after seeing them for the second time within nine days. Head coach Matt Wilber called for the first timeout of the game after just five and a half minutes of play and trailing NWC 8-2. After scoring five more points over the following 90-seconds, the Tigers called for their second timeout. Once play resumed, DWU quickly closed the margin to two-points with a jump shot from Jakob Dobney and a three-pointer from Herman. It wasn't until 9:35 to play in the first half that Dakota Wesleyan tied the game at 16-16, then went on a four-point run, to lead 20-16 with 7:45 to play. After grabbing the four-point lead, the Tigers never trailed again the rest of the half going up by as much as six-points, 35-29 on a dunk from Blaze Lubbers. After the first 20-minutes, DWU was shooting well, 42.4% from the floor, 27.8% beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 from the foul line. The Raiders heading into halftime were shooting 36.1% from the field, 10% from distance, and 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
The Raiders closed the six-point halftime margin quickly once the second half started, to just one point after just five-minutes of play. NWC regained the lead shortly after as DWU went quiet on the scoreboard for four-minutes.Once Dakota Wesleyan climbed within four-points 46-42 with 9:44 to play in regulation, Samuel Aslesen, Dobney, and Lubbers all made baskets to tie the game at 46-46. The final seven-minutes of regulation had several lead changes as neither team was able to jump back out with a commanding lead. Dobney put the Tigers ahead by five, 55-50 with 5:31 to play, but the Raiders answered with a three-point shot of their own on the opposite end of the floor cutting the margin to two-points. With the final minute closing in, DWU missed a few key shots allowing the Raiders to jump out to a four-point lead, 63-59. Dakota Wesleyan called for a full timeout with 49-seconds to play and trailing 63-59 still. Koln Oppold made a tough layup in the paint cutting the margin to two points, 63-61. The Raiders did push the margin back out to four points just 23-seconds later, but DWU was looking to keep it close till the final whistle, as Dobney made one-of-two free throws to trail by three points with 16-seconds to play. Northwestern missed a pair of free throws with 14-seconds left as the Tigers took their final timeout with 10-seconds remaining. The plan once play resumed was a Herman shot from beyond the arc, which bounced off the rim; a big offensive rebound from Lubbers gave the Tigers another chance to tie the game with two-seconds to play, but the final shot of the game also bounded off the rim as DWU dropped a heartbreaker 65-62. Over the course of the second half, the momentum shifted as the Tigers shot only 38.5% from the floor, 18.2% beyond the arc and 5-of-6 as the foul line; whereas the Raiders shot 59.1% from the field, 44.4% from distance, and went 6-of-11 at the free throw line.
Overall, the Tigers shots 40.7% from the floor, 24.1% from distance, and went 7-of-8 at the free throw line, compared to the Raiders shooting, 44.8% from the field, 26.3% from beyond the arc, and going 8-of-13 at the foul line. DWU outrebounded NWC 36-35 in the game, while outscoring the Raiders 11-9 on second chance points. The Tigers only recorded two fastbreak points, and seven points off the bench in a game that posted six ties and five lead changes.
Beyond the Results
- Kallan Herman: 15 points, 54.5 FG%, and 50 3-pt%
- Koln Oppold: 14 points, 45.4 FG%, 100 FT%, 10 rebounds, and one block
- Jakob Dobney: 14 points, 42.8 FG%, 50 FT%, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals
- Alan Kikwaki: 100 FT%, and two blocks
Up Next
The Tiger men's basketball team will pack their bags once more this regular season as they head to Fremont, Neb. on Saturday for a match up with the Warriors. Dakota Wesleyan and Midland will get under way at 3:45 p.m. from the Wikert Event Center.
With the final three games of the regular season, the Tigers currently sit sixth in the conference. The remaining opponents for DWU, currently sit at 11th with Midland, third with Morningside, and fifth with Concordia.
