Index of Sports Press Releases

Mar. 12, 2008

DWU season ends with loss at national tournament
Matt Higgins • The Daily Republic

DWU junior Scott Nelson is fouled by Aquinas College's Jason Fox at the NAIA Division II National Tournament. (Matt Higgins/Republic)

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team’s season came to an abrupt end this morning at the NAIA Division II national tournament.

The Tigers (24-9) trailed by just two points at halftime, 38-36, but Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, Mich.) shot the lights out from long range to pull away for a 91-66 win.

The Saints (25-8) advance to Friday’s second round, where they will meet the winner of Bellevue College (Neb.) and St. Joseph (Vt.).

DWU took a five-point lead, 36-31, late in the first half, but Aquinas ran off seven-straight points to take a lead into the locker room before steadily pulling away after halftime.

Preston Broughton led DWU with 17 points, but it wasn’t enough against Aquinas’ hot-shooting duo of James Telman and John Lierman. Telman led all scorers with 30 points and Lierman added 28 for the Saints, who made 15 three-point baskets on 68.2 percent shooting from downtown (15-for-22).

Free throws hurt the Tigers early, and outside shooting was a problem all day. DWU shot just 5-for-11 from the line in the first half, and just 5-for-24 from three-point land in the game.