November 6, 2006

Men’s Basketball Opens with Split, Upset Top Ten Team

 Madison, South Dakota ~ Opening weekend for the Dana College Men’s Basketball team was filled with highs and lows.  The Vikings traveled to Madison, South Dakota to take part in the DSU-Ed Harter Classic.  Dana opened up with an 81-69 loss to Dakota State University.  The next night Dana knocked off Mayville State, who opened the season ranked tenth in NAIA Division II, 85-83.

The opening game pitted Dana College against the host school Dakota State University.  The first half was a class defensive battle between the two teams.  DSU shot 50 percent from the field in the opening stanza, while Dana shot only 37 percent.  The Vikings kept close by hitting four of seven three pointers.  The Vikings found themselves trailing 35-31.

The second half saw the shooting get cold and the rims harder for Dana.  The Vikings could not keep up their hot shooting from outside.  Dakota State pulled away in the second stanza by outscoring Dana 46-38.

Teddy Cox (SR, Hawley, MN) led the Vikings with 16 points.  Cox was four of eight from behind the three point line.  Trent Mumma (JR, Bennington, NE) was the other Viking in double digits with ten points.  Gabe Bross (SO, Omaha, NE) scored nine points in his first collegiate start.  Bross and Cox led the team with five rebounds apiece.  Doug Huston (SO, Olathe, KS) and Bross dished out three assists each to pace the Vikings.  Huston also snagged two steals.

Dana did not have much time to lick its wounds as it squared off against the Comets from Mayville State University.  The Comets had earlier in the week been ranked number ten in NAIA Division II.

Coach Fear had his squad ready to go in the first half.  The Vikings had no fear of the Comets as they got off to a 35-29 halftime lead.  The Dana defense stymied the Mayville State shooters in the opening half.  The Comets shot under 30 percent for the half.  The Vikings found the DSU Memorial Field House to be comfortable on Saturday night. They shot 12 of 29 from the floor to start the game and were three of six from three point land.

The second half saw both teams come out running and gunning.  MSU picked up its shooting in the second half.  The Vikings met the Comet challenge and shot at a 66 percent clip.  Unfortunately for Fears’ group, the three point shooting almost disappeared.  Dana was only one of five in the second half.  Mayville State almost pulled off a last second victory as Andy Parochka, who had 21 points on the night, threw up a last second prayer.  Saturday night saw the shooting favor Dana as Parochka’s shot fall short as the final buzzer sounded.

Dana had three players in double digit scoring on the evening.  Captain Teddy Cox led the way with 28 points.  Cox was 10 of 16 from the field and 4 of 7 from behind the arc.  Trent Mumma added 15 points and Gabe Bross chipped in ten.  Bross again led the team in rebounds with eight.  Eric Maassen and Doug Huston each pulled down five boards.  Huston also dished out five assists on the night.  Maassen also contributed two huge blocked shots.  Rashaw Sides (SR, Bellevue, NE) added a career high four assists off the bench.

Dana does not have much time to celebrate their victory.  Tuesday night the Bruins from Bellevue University come to Gardner-Hawks.  Bellevue is coming off another NAIA National Tournament appearance.  The Bruins are 2-0 this season.  Tip off is scheduled for 8:00pm Tuesday night.

For more information, contact:


Shad Beam, sports information director, (402) 426-7389, sbeam@dana.edu

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Scott Guzinski, assistant Sports Information Director, (402) 426-7949, sguzinsk@dana.edu