Index of Sports Press Releases

Nov. 21, 2007

Tigers Edge #12 Sioux Falls in GPAC Opener

Ike Muoneke led DWU with 13 points.

Sioux Falls, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan opened the Great Plains Athletic Conference portion of their schedule with an exciting 64-59 victory over GPAC rival and 12th-ranked University of Sioux Falls on Tuesday night (Nov. 20) before a capacity crowd at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D. It was the Tigers first victory at Sioux Falls since 2000, ending a seven game losing streak at the Stewart Center.

DWU picked up its third straight victory to improve to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the GPAC, while USF falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in the GPAC.

The largest lead of the game was a six point lead for DWU, as the lead changed 14 times and the game was tied 12 times.

With the game tied at 59-59, junior Scott Nelson hit a big 3-pointer at the 1:41 mark to put DWU up 62-59. On USF’s next possession, Preston Broughton blocked a Jesse Huser to give DWU the ball and the lead with under a minute to play.

Broughton missed a jump shot with 45 seconds to play to give USF another chance to tie the game. With the shot clock running down, Colby Fitzgerald stole the ball from Huser with 12 seconds left.

Fitzgerald went to the free throw line, but missed the front end of the one and one, but Marcus Vontz tipped the rebound back out to Fitzgerald with eight seconds. He then sealed the victory by knocking down a pair of free throws.

DWU struggled from the field shooting just 41.7 percent from the floor and 23.5 percent from 3-point range (4-17). The Tigers did out rebound the bigger Cougars, 35-32.

Preston Broughton recorded a double-double to lead DWU with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Ike Muoneke also scored 13 for the Tigers, including eight early points.

Four players reached double figures for USF led by Adam Herther with 17 points.

Dakota Wesleyan will take off for the Thanksgiving break then return home to face York College on Monday night (Nov. 26) at the Corn Palace.