Courtesy of Midland Athletics
HASTINGS, Neb. — Midland University traveled to Hastings, Nebraska, on Wednesday night to face Hastings College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup.
The Broncos opened the game on a 12-4 run, forcing Midland to take an early timeout. Out of the break, Trey McCain knocked down a 3-pointer, but Hastings quickly answered with one of its own. Butch Lordeus connected on a jumper and added a free throw before Hastings called a timeout. The Broncos then went on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to double digits.
Nick Dolezal scored on a layup as both teams began trading baskets. Hastings took another timeout with under three minutes remaining in the half, leading 37-22. After the break, the Broncos added two free throws, while Amari Rahaman responded with a jumper and a free throw. Hastings closed the half on a 6-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Lordeus, as Midland headed into the locker room trailing 45-30.
Hastings opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but Dolezal answered with back-to-back baskets. The Broncos continued to pull away with a 7-0 run to take a 55-34 lead. Lordeus and Jake Orr combined for a 5-0 run for the Warriors, but Hastings responded with another 3-pointer and later took a timeout with 12 minutes remaining, leading 63-44.
After the break, Hastings went on a 7-0 run before Alec Noonan and Dolezal ended the drought with a 3-pointer and a layup. Orr added back-to-back jumpers to spark a 6-2 run, but Hastings answered with a 5-0 stretch of its own. Lordeus kept Midland within reach with consecutive 3-pointers, fueling an 8-0 run that cut the deficit to 77-63 and forced a Hastings timeout.
Out of the huddle, the Broncos made two free throws, but Lordeus again responded with a jumper to ignite a 7-2 run, bringing Midland within 81-70. Hastings rebuilt its lead with a 5-2 run before Noonan hit a 3-pointer, prompting a Midland timeout. Hastings then closed the game on a 6-0 run as Lordeus and Orr capped the scoring with free throws and a jumper. Midland fell 92-79 on the road.
Lordeus led the Warriors with 27 points. Orr added 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Noonan finished with 10 points.
Midland shot 31-of-58 (53.4%) from the field, while Hastings finished 30-of-49 (61.2%).
“Tough road game tonight,” head coach Tyler Erwin said. “We dug ourselves a hole early and played uphill the entire night. We made some shots in the second half, but it wasn’t enough. Our inconsistency showed on both ends of the floor. We have to shoot the ball better, and our defense has to travel — tonight it did not.”
Midland (10-14, 6-10 GPAC) will host Briar Cliff University (12-11, 7-5 GPAC) for Senior Day on Saturday, Feb. 7. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. inside the Wikert Event Center.
