MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team made a statement with a win over Concordia University in the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals Wednesday in front of a packed crowd at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The No. 18 Tigers topped the Bulldogs with sharpshooting from the outside and a return to form for senior guard Trae Bergh (Crooks, S.D.). DWU hit 10 shots from deep, while out rebounding a much bigger Concordia team en route to a 90-82 win.
The victory moves No. 3 seed DWU to the GPAC semifinals, where the Tigers will take on No. 2 seed Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. The teams split two meetings this season, each winning on the road. DWU is now 22-9 overall as the program looks to earn a spot in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament next month.
After DWU took a three-point lead into the half, the Tigers pulled away as sophomore center Jason Spicer (Sioux Falls, S.D.) scored six points in the opening minutes after the break. In what could be his final game on the Corn Palace floor, senior forward Jade Miller (Mitchell, S.D.) helped secure the win with consecutive 3-pointers to push DWU ahead by 15 points with 10 minutes to play.
Concordia chipped away and cut the DWU lead to six points on a couple of occasions down the stretch, but the Tigers made their free throws to secure the win.
Miller finished with 27 points, including five 3-pointers, while grabbing eight rebounds. Bergh finished with 23 points, while junior guard Tate Martin (Mitchell, S.D.) finished with a double-double, scoring 16 points and dishing out 10 assists. Senior forward Terrell Newton (Huron, S.D.) just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Spicer chipped in with nine points and five rebounds.
The Tigers shot 32-of-66 from the field, 10-of-27 from deep and 16-of-19 from the line. DWU won the rebounding battle 33-30, while finishing with 25 assists and six turnovers.
Jamie Pearson scored 15 points on 7-of-23 shooting, while Concordia shot 34-of-67 from the field, 8-of-23 from deep and 6-of-10 from the line.
DWU looks to top NWU for the second time on the road this season at 3 p.m. Saturday in Lincoln.
