Kitzelman Scores 27 in Viking Loss

 Honolulu, HI ~ Monday night football was not the only sport to have a high scoring individual.  Jared Kitzelman (SR, Fremont, NE) pumped in a career high 27 points in Dana College’s 72-69 loss to Simon Fraser in Honolulu.

Simon Fraser raced out to an early 9-2 lead as Dana struggled to find their shooting touch.  The Vikings would not allow the game to get out of hand as they started to knock down shots.  Simon Fraser kept Dana from getting second chance looks at the basket by out rebounding Dana 21-12 in the first period.  The Vikings cut the Clans lead to two points late in the first half when Eric Maassen (SO, Hancock, IA) clocked a shot that lead to Kitzelman hitting a 15-foot jumper.  Dana went into the locker room down five 40-35.

The Vikings came out with confidence to start the second half.  Dana erased the five point halftime margin and actually took a eight point lead with 10 minutes left to go in the game.  The second half featured an array of Jared Kitzelman three pointers, lay-ups, and jumpers in the paint.  The lead would be short lived as the Vikings saw the Clan go to the line 17 times in the second half, compared to Dana’s five trips.  Simon Fraser capitalized on their free throw advantage by going 14-17 from the charity strip in the second half.  The free throw advantage would doom Dana as Simon Fraser regained the lead in the final two minutes of the game.  Kitzelman had a last chance three-pointer that rimmed out as the buzzer went off.

Jared Kitzelman scored 27 points to lead Dana.  Kitzelman was an impressive 10-15 from the floor, but was a more impressive 6-8 from the three point arch.  Sean Johnson (FR, Council Bluffs, IA) was the only other Viking in double digits with 14.  Zeb Christensen (SR, State Center, IA) had a solid all-around game.  Christensen pulled down five rebounds, scored eight points, and dished out five assists.  Gabe Bross (SO, Omaha, NE) pulled down six rebounds and added a blocked shot.  Eric Maassen scored six points, blocked a shot, and had three rebounds.

The loss drops Dana to 4-10 on the year, while Simon Fraser improves to 12-5.  Dana will return to the mainland Thursday afternoon.  The Vikings are off until December 29 when they travel into Omaha to take on the University of Nebraska-Omaha in non-conference action.  Tip is 7:00pm at the Sapp Field House.  Dana will return to conference play on January 2, 2007 when they host Midland Lutheran 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