Index of Sports Press Releases

March 11, 2010

No. 7 DWU beats McPherson 79-66 to advance to Sweet 16

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The seventh-seeded Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team used several staggering runs and contributions from nearly the entire team to beat McPherson College 79-66 late Wednesday night in the first round of the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Tournament.

The victory was DWU’s first win in four trips to the NAIA DII tournament, and its first national tournament win since 1947. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the Sweet 16 and extended the nation’s longest active winning streak, now at 17 games. Dakota Wesleyan also added to its single-season school record with its 28th victory of the season.

DWU (28-5) had a hot-and-cold first half. After McPherson (20-9) hit a pair of early 3-pointers for an 8-6 lead, Preston Broughton and Darrin Dorsey started to get in the flow for Dakota Wesleyan. Broughton got a dunk and scored on another drive and Dorsey turned a steal into a fast-break layup and then made a four-point play when he connected on a deep three and was fouled. The result was an 11-2 run and the Tigers’ first significant lead at 17-12.

Brady Wiebe

Darrin Dorsey

However, DWU went ice cold and went 5:21 without a field goal as the Bulldogs fought back to within three on two occasions at 21-18 and 23-20. Dakota Wesleyan finally ended the drought when Chase Walder connected on a long 3-pointer, and that kickstarted another Tiger hot streak. Walder also hit his next two threes and Bo LaCroix hit two from long range as well to spark a 20-8 run that put Dakota Wesleyan up by its largest margin of the opening half at 43-28.

Aaron Frazier gave McPherson a lift in the half’s final minutes as he keyed a 6-0 run that pulled the Bulldogs back within single digits heading into the locker room at 43-34. That run continued with a Marlon Dominique steal and layup on the second half’s first possession to get McPherson within seven, but Wiebe finally got DWU back on track with a three-point play to push the Tiger lead right back to double digits.

Preston Broughton

Mitch Bain

Chase Walder

McPherson quickly cut the lead back to seven again, but DWU countered with a 10-2 run thanks to some pretty passing. Broughton converted a three-point play on a beautiful inside pass from Wiebe and then Wiebe scored inside on a nice look from Dorsey. After the teams’ traded misses Wiebe found a cutting Mitch Bain for another easy deuce, Broughton hit 1-of-2 from the line and Dorsey scored on a fast break for a 56-41 lead.

As usual, the Bulldogs had an answer with a 13-2 run over the next 4:50. Patrick Nemechek hit a 3-pointer, Frazier scored on a drive and Nemechek got free for a layup. Just like that it, McPherson had cut a 15-point lead nearly in half and trailed just 56-48. After a Wiebe layup, Charles Moore scored inside and was fouled. He missed the free throw but Antowine Lamb grabbed the board and laid it in to cut the Tigers’ lead to six, and Frazier scored on another drive to make it a four-point game at 58-54.

However, Dakota Wesleyan finally got the last laugh with a 16-3 run that put McPherson away and ended the Tigers’ National Tournament drought. The run started with two Bain free throws and a three-point play by Wiebe. After a McPherson three, Wiebe drew another foul and sank both shots, Dorsey scored on a fast break, and Broughton got a bucket inside in-between two Bain layups. The run gave DWU a 73-57 lead and the Tigers cruised to victory from there.

DWU’s balance was the big different as five players reached double figures. Wiebe just missed a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds and Dorsey flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Broughton added 14 points, Bain had 11 and Walder scored 10 off the bench. LaCroix also added six points off the bench for DWU, which shot 55.3 percent from the floor, 40.0 percent from three and 72.4 percent from the line.

Frazier led McPherson with 18 points, Moore added 11 off the bench and Mike Reece and Nemechek each scored eight points for the Bulldogs. Lamb led the way on the boards with a game-high 10 rebounds and Dominique had three assists. McPherson had a 27-24 edge on the glass while shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, 35.0 percent from three and 50.0 percent from the line.

Dakota Wesleyan will enjoy a day off Thursday as the first round resumes with the other eight first-round games. The Tigers will take on No. 10 Cornerstone University (28-6), which knocked out the host school, College of the Ozarks, in a thrilling 73-72 game Wednesday. DWU and Cornerstone will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Friday night. The game will be Web cast live for a fee on www.watchnaia.com or listen to Tim Smith and Bob Sprang on 105.9 FM KMIT or online at www.kmit.com.