Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University hosted Dakota Wesleyan University on Saturday afternoon for a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) matchup. The Warriors fell behind late in the second half, ultimately suffering a 70-56 loss to the Tigers.
Jeff Rozelle III and Rece Kissinger ignited the game with a 9-0 run, prompting an early timeout from Dakota Wesleyan. Following the break, the Tigers ended their scoring drought with a 4-0 run, but Kissinger kept Midland’s momentum alive, fueling a 9-3 stretch. Dakota Wesleyan responded with a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to four within the opening 10 minutes. Nick Dolezal snapped Midland’s scoring drought with four straight points, but the Tigers answered with an 8-0 surge, tying the game at 22-22. Both teams exchanged baskets before Dakota Wesleyan edged ahead with a jump shot, prompting a timeout. Mason Strong evened the score at 28-28 from the free-throw line in the final minute of the half, but the Tigers reclaimed the lead with a jumper, heading into halftime up 30-28.
Coming out of the break, Dakota Wesleyan carried its momentum into the second half with an 8-2 run, forcing an early Midland timeout. After regrouping, Jake Orr sparked an 8-2 run to snap the Warriors’ scoring slump. The Tigers answered with a dunk and quickly called for another timeout. Orr and Rozelle III combined for a 4-2 stretch, but Dakota Wesleyan countered with a 6-2 run. As the game approached the final five minutes, both teams traded baskets before the Tigers called another timeout. After the break, Strong and Ryan Larsendrained back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to four and prompting a Midland timeout. However, Dakota Wesleyan responded with a 6-0 run to pull away. Kissinger briefly halted the drought with a layup, but the Tigers sealed the game at the free-throw line, handing Midland a tough 70-56 loss.
Midland shot 23-of-52 (44%) from the field, while Dakota Wesleyan went 26-of-57 (45.6%). The Tigers outrebounded the Warriors 33-27 and were 14-of-15 (93.3%) at the free-throw line, while Midland finished 6-of-8 (75%).
Rozelle and Strong led the Warriors with 13 points each, while Kissinger added 12.
“We came out really well, made shots, and as a team, we’ve been pretty good offensively,” said head coach Tyler Erwin. “But we can’t hang our heads on whether we make or miss shots. This was one of those grind-it-out games—limited possessions, ball security, and toughness. In the first half, we settled in a bit, but right away in the second half, it got out of hand. I thought we took some good shots that just didn’t fall, and we missed a lot of opportunities around the rim—while they didn’t. They made timely baskets that put us in a tough spot. Then, when we tried to foul at the end, they made their free throws. When you have empty possessions in a grind-it-out game, it’s a challenge.”
Looking ahead, Erwin emphasized the importance of focusing on his team’s growth. “Going into Dordt, they’re a top-five efficiency team. But this week is about us. We can’t control them—they’ve had a tremendous season—but we’ll go up there and play hard. Our focus is on getting better every day and every week so that we’re playing our best basketball at the end of the year. We’re in the hunt, and that hasn’t been the case in a long time. That’s something we’ve talked about—it’s a process. Our goal has been to finish in the top eight, and we’re still fighting for that. We need to get back to the basics, back to ourselves, and rebuild our confidence. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead.”
Up next, Midland (10-14, 5-11 GPAC) will have a week off before traveling to Sioux Center, Iowa, to take on No. 8 Dordt (21-2, 13-2 GPAC) in a conference matchup. Tipoff is set for 3:45 p.m.
