HASTINGS, Neb. -- The Dakota Wesleyan men's basketball team's defense gave up 93 points to Hastings College in a Sunday afternoon loss, ending a three-game road winning streak the Tigers were on.
After trailing 49-40 aft the half, No.23 DWU tried to put an early rally together, but Hastings pulled out the upset win, 93-83, moving the Tigers in a four-way tied for third place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.
The Tigers held the lead only once in the game, after its first bucket. Chase Walder hit one of his five 3-pointers in the first half, giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead. Walder hit 5-of-6 threes in the first half. He finished as the team's high scorer with 20 points.
The two teams exchanged buckets and were tied at 26 with under 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Scott Nelson hit a three to tie the game at 26, but Hastings answered with a 17-5 run, capped by two 3-pointers from Hastings' Derek Fletcher, who finished with 17 points.
Both teams shot well from the field in the first half. DWU was 15-of-34 for 44 percent, and Hastings was 19-of-36 for 53 percent.
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Hastings led by 13 with about one minute remaining in the half, but a three by Colby Fitzgerald and a free throw by Rocky Nelson cut the lead to nine at the break.
Despite warming up prior to the game, Brady Wiebe was unable to play throughout the game due to Asthma. Wiebe averages over 15 points per game for the Tigers.
DWU put together a run to start the second half, pulling within two points on another 3-pointer by Walder.
In the run, Fitzgerald was a key factor, scoring seven-straight points for his team. He went 4-of-4 from the line and hit a three, and then Nelson hit two free throws. Fitzgerald finished with 12 points.
As DWU threatened to take the lead, Hastings went on a quick 8-2 run.
The Tigers' shooting was actually better in the second half, shooting 13-of-24 for 54 percent, but gave up too many offensive rebounds, resulting in second-chance points. The Tigers were outrebounded in the game 42-30.
Hastings pulled out at 15-point lead with about five minutes remaining in the game at 90-75, but the Tigers only put up eight points in the final minutes.
The Tigers fell to 14-5 overall and 5-2 in the GPAC.
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After Walder's 20, Ike Muoneke finished with 13 points, and Mitch Bain and Mike long each had 10 points.
Hastings shot 53 percent from the field and was led in scoring by Waid Vontz with 22 points. Center Kyle Wamsley had 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
The loss was the first to Hastings for Tigers' coach John Hemenway. He was previously 6-0 against Hastings.
DWU will try to rebound at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Corn Palace when it hosts Dordt College. Dordt also is currently 5-2 in the GPAC, along with DWU, Morningside and Northwestern.
