Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University hosted No. 12-ranked Northwestern College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) game of the season on Saturday. The Warriors, who honored its lone senior before the final home game, started strong in the first half but the sharp-shooting Red Raiders came from behind for the 90-84 win inside Wikert Event Center.
Midland opened up the first half with back-to-back three-pointers by Ryan Larsen and Derek Merwick, followed by a layup by Jake Rueschhoff for an 8-0 run. Northwestern made their mark with a three-pointer, but Jeffrey Rozelle III sparked a 6-1 run, maintaining the momentum for the home team.
As the teams engaged in a point-for-point exchange, Larsen initiated a 10-2 run for the Warriors. The back-and-forth battle continued, and Northwestern closed the first half with a heated 7-2 run, leaving the Warriors advantage at a dozen, 38-26, at halftime.
After the intermission, Jake Orr opened up the second half with a layup as the Red Raiders looked to lessen the gap. They ignited a 14-2 run to bring it to a two-point game. Northwestern, who missed just six shots in the second half, surged ahead with a 16-2 run, establishing a double-digit lead with 8:22 remaining.
As the back-and-forth battle waged on, the Warriors crept back closer with a 5-0 run. Every run made by Midland to get back within striking distance was matched by Northwestern as it went on a 5-2 run. The Red Raiders were able to hold onto their lead as both teams traded turns at the free-throw line in the final minutes. Midland never gave up as it fell by a score of 90-84 in its final home game of the season.
Jake Orr led the Warriors with 27 points, followed closely by Derek Merwick with 20. Ryan Larsen finished with 13 while senior Jake Rueschhoff had 12 points in his final game in Fremont.
“I wish halftime didn’t happen because we played well for the 20 minutes and really executed our game plan,” commented head coach Tyler Erwin. “I am really proud of our guys. I know it is the game, but I am proud of them because it is the No. 12 team in the country. I am disappointed that we didn’t win. The second half didn’t go our way but we executed our game plan especially in that first 20 minutes really well.”
“We had a great effort offensively,” Coach Erwin added. “We had some extra rebound, some extra second chance points, and we shared the ball really well. They just had some really good runs and in the second half for some reason, I felt like I couldn’t get our guys settled back in.
Derek has had a tremendous year for us and has changed the dynamics of our team and leadership but when it goes back to the one thing we will miss with Rueschhoff is he goes every day, every practice, I never have to get after him about where are you at today, he is always locked in and his leadership matters, his work ethic matters and it bleeds on guys. I am really proud of him.”
Midland (9-17, 4-14 GPAC) will travel to Yankton, South Dakota to face Mount Marty (6-19, 2-17) next week. The midweek matchup is slated for 7:45 p.m. on February 21.
