FREMONT, Neb. -- After playing two very different games last week, Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball head coach John Hemenway hoped his team would come out Saturday afternoon and play more consistent.
The Tigers didn't disappoint as they picked up their first win of 2009 when they beat Midland Lutheran College 84-73 in Fremont, Neb.
"We played really good on the offensive end tonight," Hemenway said after Saturday's game. "We scored 49 (points) in the first half and shot 68 percent (from the field) and shot 54 percent for the game, so our offense is really starting to click. We played pretty well on offense, we just have to get better on defense."
Midland Lutheran never really backed down throughout the game, but it was Dakota Wesleyan that held the lead the entire game. The Tigers picked up 7-4 lead less than two minutes into the game. The Warriors got to within one, 20-19, with nine minutes gone, but went on an 8-0 run to create some separation. Dakota Wesleyan led 49-37 at the break.
The Tigers' offense really came alive in the second half and led by as much as 20, 63-43, at 12:51. The Warriors were able to whittle the lead back down to single digits at 76-67 with 4:38 left to play, but never really threatened to take control of the game.
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Brady Wiebe hit a jumper and Mitch Bain hit two free throws and DWU was up 80-67, and Chase Walder hit a three with six seconds left for a 13-points, 84-71 lead.
"The fast start was key," Hemenway said. "Anytime you go on the road, you want to get off to a fast start. This was a very good offensive game for us."
Colby Fitzgerald led five players in double figures for DWU with 21 points. Wiebe added 14 points, Walder and Ike Muoneke each had 13 and Bain finished with 10 points. The Tigers shot better than 53 percent from the field throughout the game, including a 58 percent clip in the first half and made 30 of 56 field-goal attempts.
The Tiger men were quick to share the ball, which helped create more scoring opportunities. DWU finished with 29 assists.
"We had great balance," Hemenway said. "We had five kids in double figures, and we also had 30 field goals and 29 assists, so we're really sharing the ball which is a great stat. We're really passing the ball well."
Wiebe had 11 of DWU's 34 rebounds, Bain had seven assists and Muoneke had four steals for the Tigers, who are now 1-34 overall and 4-1 in the GPAC.
Luke Simons led the Warriors with 17 points. Brandon Mach added 14 points, Evan Lamprecht chipped in with 12 and Zach Rosenboom finished with 10. Jason Ahrens had six assists and Langemeier had 12 rebounds for Midland Lutheran, which is 4-13 and 2-4 in the GPAC.
Up next for DWU is Mount Marty College Wednesday in Yankton.
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"They're really going to try and grind it out," Hemenway said of the Lancers. "They're not a high-scoring team, but they're patient on offense and make you defend them for 35 seconds. We have to be disciplined in our man-to-man, be focused and patient and push the tempo."
DAKOTA WESLEYAN 84
MIDLAND LUTHERAN 73
Dakota Wesleyan (13-4, 4-1)
Mitch Bain 4-6 2-2 10; Colby Fitzgerald 7-12 7-8 21; Brady Wiebe 6-9 1-2 14; Ike Muoneke 4-8 4-6 13; Scott Nelson 3-6 0-0 7; Rocky Nelson 0-1 0-0 0; Chase Walder 3-9 5-8 13; Mike Long 3-5 0-0 6. Totals 30-56 19-26 84.
Midland Lutheran (4-13, 2-4)
Jason Ahrens 3-8 2-2 8; Luke Simons 6-9 1-3 17; Trey Boggs 0-5 0-0 0; Chad Langemeier 1-3 2-2 4; Evan Lamprecht 5-10 2-5 12; Tom Scheiber 0-0 0-0 0; Jordan Tuma 0-1 0-0 0; Eric Pieper 2-2 0-0 5; Zach Rosenboom 5-13 0-1 10; Adam Schmoldt 1-3 0-0 3; Tyson Keller 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon Mach 5-6 4-7 14. Totals 28-60 11-20 73.
Halftime score: DWU 49, MLC 37. Three-point goals: DWU 5-14 (Walder 2-6), MLC 6-14 (Simons 4-6). Rebounds: DWU 34 (Wiebe 11), MLC 31 (Langemeier 12). Turnovers: DWU 12, MLC 16. Assists: DWU 29 (Bain 7), MLC 22 (Ahrens 6). Steals: DWU 11 (Muoneke 4), MLC 3. Blocks: DWU 1, MLC 3. Fouled out: Schmoldt.
