Blair, Nebraska ~ The home court advantage did not work for the men’s basketball team on Tuesday evening.  Dana lost a tight home game to Grace University 72-68.

The Vikings opened up strong with a 14-6 run to start the game.  Gabe Bross (SO, Omaha, NE) gave Dana its lead on a jumper in the lane.  Grace took a much needed time out and came out on a 10-0 run to pull ahead.  AJ Arkfeld (FR, Harlan, IA) stopped the Royal run and put Dana back on top by draining a crucial three pointer.  The two teams exchanged baskets and the lead for the remainder of the half.  Dana went into halftime with a slight one point lead 29-28.

The second half started the same way the first ended.  Grace and Dana exchanged baskets; neither team could find a foothold and maintain the lead.  Things looked like the home rims were not favoring the Vikings as the Royals shot over 50-percent for the half.  Gabe Bross put the Vikings up two with a little under ten minutes remaining with a lay-up.  The lead was shot lived as Grace came back and actually went up four with five minutes left.  Dana whittled the lead down to one.  Eric Maassen (SO, Hancock, IA) gave the Vikings a one point lead with 3:43 remaining.  This would be the last lead for the Vikings.  The Royals regained the lead and stretched it to seven with fewer than two minutes left.  Teddy Cox (SR, Hawley, MN) drained a three pointer to pull Dana with in four.  Unfortunately for the Vikings, Grace would hit almost all of their free throws in the closing minute to take a ten point lead.  Two Teddy Cox field goals and two Jared Kitzelman (SR, Fremont, NE) lay-ups would be draw Dana closer, but could not tie the game up as the half ended.

Dana had four players in double digits in the loss.  Eric Maassen continued his strong play and led the team with 16 points.  Teddy Cox added 15 points in the loss.  Jared Kitzelman and Gabe Bross chipped in 11 and ten points respectively.  Kitzelman also had a team high eight rebounds.  Doug Huston (SO, Olathe, KS) dished out five assists.

The loss drops Dana to 8-16 and snaps a two game winning streak.  The Vikings will travel to Orange City, Iowa on Saturday to take on Northwestern College.  The Red Raiders are currently rated 14^th in the latest NAIA Division II poll.  Dana will return home next Wednesday to host Concordia University at 7:30pm.

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