Saturday, January 7, 2023
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University fell just short of extending its win streak against No. 23 Morningside University on Saturday afternoon. Trailing by double digits with just over four minutes to go, the Warriors cut the lead to two possessions before running out of time as Mustangs held on for the 88-81 win. Midland falls to 7-10 on the season and now sits at 1-8 in the conference, while Morningside jumps to 12-3 overall and 1-8 in the GPAC.
The Warriors tripped out of the game as the Mustangs took a 9-0 lead early. The home team answered as Jake Orr scored 10 of his 16 first-half points in the first eight minutes of the game to bring Midland back. At the 10-minute mark, a 6-0 run by the Warriors cut the lead to just one, 27-26.
Morningside stretched the lead back out to eight, giving them momentum before the first half expired. They led 45-37 after the first period.
After the break in the action, the Mustangs were able to push their lead to double digits once more behind a pair of three-pointers to start the half. The lead hovered around the 10 to 13-point range as the two teams traded baskets.
Trailing by 15 with five minutes to go, Midland mounted a comeback on their home floor. Rece Kissinger had seven points during a 12-4 run, cutting the lead in half with 2:13 to go. A three-pointer from Morningside pushed it to 10. They were able to maintain the lead by converting at the free-throw line.
With 32 seconds left on the clock, Emmanuel Bryson nearly willed the Warriors back with a 5-0 run of his own but the clock proved to be too shallow as the Mustangs held on for the seven-point win, 88-81.
The Warriors shot 47% from the field as they added 33 baskets off 18 assists. Orr continued his prowess with another double-double. He led the team with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Bryson garnered a season-high 14 points in 20 minutes of action. Jake Rueschhoff had nine rebounds to go with eight points and six assists in a solid game from his lead guard position.
“Morningside is a really good team, so you have to give them credit,” said head coach Tyler Erwin. “I was really pleased with some of the things we did, especially coming out of halftime. We adjusted a few things offensively and had open looks. I was pleased with the guys’ ability to transfer what we put on the whiteboard and execute it on the floor.”
Up next, Midland (7-10, 1-8 GPAC) will travel to Mitchell, South Dakota to face off against Dakota Wesleyan (8-8, 4-4 GPAC). The two teams will meet at 7:45 p.m. inside The World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota. The Warriors will look to snap a three-game losing streak against the Tigers.
