Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. — Midland University hosted Dakota Wesleyan in a Great Plains Athletic Conference contest Saturday evening to open the new year. After a hard-fought battle, the Warriors fell 79-70 to the Tigers.
Jake Orr opened the game’s scoring with a jumper, followed by a reverse dunk from Nick Dolezal to energize the Warriors and spark an 8-0 run. Dakota Wesleyan answered with its first baskets of the night, but Orr responded with back-to-back scores to give Midland a 12-4 advantage, prompting an early Tigers timeout.
Following the break, Dakota Wesleyan went on an 11-0 run to take a 15-12 lead, forcing Midland to call another timeout. Out of the stoppage, Orr and Butch Lordeus combined for a 5-0 run to regain a 17-15 edge. Both teams traded baskets, keeping the game tied at 19-19 before Jeff Rozelle III gave Midland a 21-19 lead with a layup. The Tigers responded with a 3-pointer to take a 22-21 lead, prompting another Midland timeout.
After the break, Orr converted a layup and free throw to push the Warriors back in front, 24-22, before Dakota Wesleyan tied the game at 24-24. The teams continued to trade baskets, knotting the score at 29-29 before another Midland timeout. Coming out of the break, the Tigers hit two consecutive 3-pointers to build a 35-29 lead.
Amari Rahaman answered with a jumper to cut the deficit to four, but Dakota Wesleyan followed with a layup to make it 37-31. Lordeus and Orr quickly responded with back-to-back layups to pull Midland within two, 37-35, heading into the final minute of the half. The Tigers made two free throws and a 3-pointer before Orr closed the half with a jumper, sending Midland into the locker room trailing 42-37.
Dakota Wesleyan opened the second half with a 6-0 run to extend its lead. Rozelle III connected on a 3-pointer, but the Tigers answered with another run to push the advantage to double digits, 54-42. Rozelle III and Dolezal combined for a 4-0 spurt before Midland called a timeout.
Out of the break, Rahaman scored on a layup, but Dakota Wesleyan answered with back-to-back baskets. Dolezal sparked a 6-1 run to bring the Warriors within five, 59-54. The Tigers responded with two free throws and a basket to extend the lead. Lordeus drilled a 3-pointer, followed by a layup from Orr, to make it 63-59. Dakota Wesleyan then hit another 3-pointer, forcing a Midland timeout with four minutes remaining.
Orr scored on a jumper to cut the deficit to five, 66-61, but the Tigers responded with a 9-0 run to push the lead back to double digits, 75-61. After a timeout, Lordeus and Rozelle III combined for a 5-1 run, but Dakota Wesleyan sealed the game at the free-throw line. Rahaman scored the final basket as Midland fell 79-70.
Midland shot 31-of-61 (50.8%) from the field, while Dakota Wesleyan finished 28-of-58 (48.3%). The Tigers made eight 3-pointers compared to Midland’s three. Midland held a slight rebounding edge, 34-33.
Orr led the Warriors with 21 points. Rozelle III recorded a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Lordeus and Dolezal each added 10 points.
“We had a good start and good energy early, but they pushed back on us,” head coach Tyler Erwin said. “At the end of the day, we struggled to guard penetration on the ball. We were switching our ball-screen coverage trying to keep the ball in front, and they made shots. When they missed, they got more offensive rebounds.
“Offensively, Jake had one of his better games and did some really good things. We shared the ball well, but we had more turnovers than assists, and that hurt us. I think we can score better than we did. We had a great opportunity tonight with a great crowd, good practices and good energy leading into the game — it just didn’t go our way.
“Defensively, we’ve been really good, and I like this team and what we’re doing. We have to do a better job of letting our defensive energy lead to our offense and vice versa. That comes with time and maturity, and it’s a work in progress. Give Dakota Wesleyan credit — they beat us twice. We’ll bounce back.”
Midland (8-8, 4-4 GPAC) travels to Sioux City, Iowa, to face Briar Cliff University (8-7, 5-3 GPAC) in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m.
