LINCOLN, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball team found itself in a third shootout of the season against Nebraska Wesleyan University in the semifinals of the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament Saturday in Lincoln, Neb.
The No. 18 Tigers had no answer for NWU's Trey Bardsley as the No. 20 Prairie Wolves pulled away in the second half for a 101-92 win. The loss puts DWU in the position of having to wait to learn its fate for the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament. The Tigers are now 22-10 and will learn if they are a part of the NAIA field for a second straight season Wednesday.
Bardsley scored 55 points for NWU, shooting 16-of-29 from the field, 11-of-18 from deep and 12-of-12 from the line. Each time DWU tried to make a run, Bardsley had the answer. The Tigers closed the gap to six points several times midway through the second half, but could not overcome the hot NWU shooting.
DWU fell despite a pair of 30-point performances, including 32 from senior forward Jade Miller (Mitchell, S.D.). Miller sank six 3-pointers and finished 10-of-18 from the field with six rebounds. Sophomore guard Trae Vandeberg (Madison, S.D.) scored a career-high 30 points, including eight 3-pointers in the loss for DWU.
The last time DWU headed to Lincoln, senior guard Trae Bergh set a new school record with 12 made 3-pointers. The NWU rims were not as kind to Bergh Saturday, as the Crooks, S.D., native finished with 13 points, going 1-of-9 from deep.
The Tigers shot 32-of-61 from the field, 16-of-35 from deep and 11-of-20 from the line, while NWU won the rebounding battle 43-35. The Prairie Wolves shot 35-of-73 from the field, 15-of-36 from 3-point range and 17-of-23 from the line.