Dec. 3, 2005

A shooting slump, as severe as 20 percent, cost Dana College the game Saturday afternoon at Bellevue University 82-49.

The Vikings started the game off with a 6-2 run in the first four minutes. Then Bellevue, last season’s NAIA national runner-up, woke up and took control of the game. The Bruins’10-3 run and gave them a sizeable lead midway through the first half. At halftime Dana trailed 41-29.

The second half did not improve for the Vikings. Bellevue turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and Dana made only 20 percent of their shots. The cold Viking shooting and a couple big runs extended the Bruins’ lead to 27 points. Dana’s leading scorer, Jason Isaacson, had no points in the second half.

Overall Dana College hit only 28 percent from the floor (16 of 57) and 19 percent from beyond the three-point arc (5 of 26). The Vikings lost the battle in the paint 48-18 and lost the rebounding battle 40-34.

Defensively, Dana College forced 20 Bellevue turnovers and had five blocked shots.

Despite the lackluster second half, Jason Isaacson (SR, Council Bluffs, IA) led the Vikings with 15 points and four rebounds. Mark Esser (SR, Woodbine, IA) scored 11 points, pulled down six points, and blocked three shots. Teddy Cox (JR, Hawley, Minnesota) chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Dana College falls to 4-6 on the season, while Bellevue improves to 7-2.

Dana College next plays at home on Thursday evening at 7:30pm against another MCAC opponent Peru State College.