Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University started the New Year by hosting the University of Jamestown on Saturday evening inside the Wikert Event Center. After a strong opening half by the Warriors where they led by 15, the Jimmies climbed back into the game to force overtime. In the extra session, momentum stayed with the Jimmies as they edged the Warriors, 109-108.
Ryan Larsen ignited the game’s start with a three-pointer as Midland opened on a 9-2 run. Jamestown responded with a 4-0 run to keep things close early. As the teams began exchanging points consistently, a pivotal three-pointer from Jamestown narrowed the gap further, making it a one-point contest with Midland holding a 23-22 lead at 9:36.
The Warriors unleashed a 10-0 run, pushing their lead into double digits. The surge featured contributions from Larsen with four points, Jeffrey Rozelle III with a successful three-pointer, and Jake Orr added three points. Attempting to narrow the margin, the Jimmies responded once again. They went on an 11-5 run to pull within five points. Orr revitalized the Warriors with consecutive layups, propelling an 11-2 run to conclude the first half with a score of 50-35, in favor of MU.
Following the intermission, Rozelle kicked off the second half with consecutive layups, spearheading an 8-5 run. Derek Merwick, who played the entire 45 minutes, chipped in with four points while Rueschhoff added two to the scoring effort. The Jimmies, determined to stage a comeback, initiated a resilient 14-3 run. Rueschhoff ended the scoreless streak with a layup and Orr took charge, contributing nine straight points for the orange and blue to widen Midland’s lead to 19.
Trailing 74-55 with 12 minutes remaining, Jamestown pushed back with a 14-6 run to lessen the gap. After matching each other’s points, the Jimmies mounted the final stages of their comeback as they went on a 10-3 run to bring it to a two-point contest, 90-88 with less than two minutes to go.
Merwick interrupted the Warriors’ quiet spell with a crucial layup. Amidst a back-and-forth exchange of points, and both teams calling for timeouts, Jamestown found themselves at the free-throw line late. Down by three, the Jimmies made their first free throw and intentionally missed the second. They were able to battle for position and seized the opportunity to get the game-tying layup, leveling the game at 95-95 and forcing it into overtime.
In the extra period, Merwick’s determined effort propelled the Warriors into triple digits, bringing the score to 103-100, during an 8-5 run. The Jimmies responded with consecutive layups and three successful free throws, surging ahead at 107-103 with just 20 seconds remaining.
Midland attempted a late comeback in the final seconds with a 5-2 run, but the Warriors fell just shy of one to take a heartbreaking loss, 109-108 to Jamestown.
Derek Merwick led the team with 40 points and 7 assists. Jake Orr followed with a double-double of 26 points and 10 rebounds. Rozelle finished with 14 points while Larsen added 13 and Rueschhoff had 11.
For the game, Midland shot 39-of-68 (57.4%) while Jamestown was 42-of-78 (53.8%). The Warriors shot 41.7% from the three-point line while the Jimmies shot 30.4%. Jamestown’s bench played a crucial role in their comeback, combining for 48 points.
“We scored it well in the first half. We scored it well in the second half. When you score 95 points you feel pretty good about things,” commented head coach Tyler Erwin. “Defensively, we were really good in the first half. Gave up 35 points, got a lot of stops, and we were good on the ball. Then something happened at halftime. After halftime, it went the other way in a hurry.”
“I’m proud of our guys. We played hard. Everybody in the gym knows we should’ve won this game,” said Coach Erwin in his postgame interview. “There is a fine line to winning games like this. All of the little things come back to get you in a tight game. I felt like in the last few minutes of regulation and overtime the momentum had shifted and we couldn’t get it back. The locker room was disappointed and I told them we should feel this way. What can’t happen is that this moment can’t define the season. Come Monday, we’re moving forward and turning the page. We’re looking forward to playing well and getting a road win at Northwestern on Saturday.”
Midland (7-9, 2-6 GPAC) will be in the gym prepping next week before returning to action as they travel to Orange City, Iowa next Saturday to face Northwestern (12-3, 5-2 GPAC). The conference matchup is scheduled for a 3:45 p.m. tipoff on January 13 inside the Bultman Center.
