MITCHELL, S.D. – In another shootout between Dakota Wesleyan University and Nebraska Wesleyan University in men's basketball, the Prairie Wolves outlasted the Tigers to hand DWU a tough loss heading down the stretch of the Great Plains Athletic Conference season Saturday at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The No. 13 Tigers could not keep up with the frantic pace of NWU late in the second half as the Prairie Wolves made one too many big runs keyed by the team's 19 made 3-pointers. DWU fell 107-97 and drop to 19-8 overall and 11-6 in the GPAC with three games left on the regular season schedule.
The teams traded big shots as the pace of the game quickened to breakneck speeds at several points. A total of nine players, four for DWU and five for NWU, scored in double figures.
After a pair of made free throws from senior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.), the Tigers held a 78-75 lead with 8:43 to play. From there, NWU went on a 14-2 run to take a nine-point lead at the 5:31 mark.
Each time DWU made a shot with the minutes dwindling, NWU had the answer, several times in the form a dagger from long range. The Tigers were unable to get within fewer than seven points the rest of the way as the Prairie Wolves left the Corn Palace with a win. The result put NWU alone in second place at 11-5 in the GPAC with DWU a half game behind.
Senior forward Jade Miller continued his strong play of late with 32 points on 12-of-24 shooting, including four made 3-pointers. Miller added eight rebounds and four steals in the loss. Sophomore guard Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) came off the bench to score 20 points, while hitting four 3-pointers and grabbing five rebounds.
Last time Bergh saw the Prairie Wolves, he sank a DWU record 12 3-pointers. This time out, Bergh was held in check from deep, with one made 3-pointer. He finished with 19 points and five assists. Junior guard Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine assists.
DWU shot 36-of-74 from the field, 10-of-35 from deep and 15-of-20 from the line. The Tigers were outrebounded 40-30 in the loss.
The NWU long-range attack was led by Cooper Cook, who came off the bench with five 3-pointers and a team-high 24 points, while GPAC-leading scorer Trey Bardsley added 23 points and four 3-pointers. NWU finished 36-of-67 from the field, 19-of-33 from behind the 3-point line and 16-of-25 from the free-throw line.
DWU hits the road for the final time in the regular season with a matchup against Morningside College at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Sioux City, Iowa.
