November 14, 2006

Vikings Face Third Ranked Opponent

Oskaloosa, Iowa ~ For the third time in three games, the men’s basketball team would be facing a nationally rated opponent.  Dana was pitted against the number 17 team in NAIA, Division II, William Penn University.  The Vikings fell three points short 90-87.

Dana would not play defensive against their nationally rated foe.  The Vikings opened up a six point lead early in the first half as Doug Huston (So, Olathe, KS) converted a lay-up.    The two teams exchanged turnovers and missed shots for the next four minutes until a Jason Perry lay-up pulled the Statesmen even.  Dana and William Penn then exchanged the lead six times in 1:34 span.  Zach Genant (SO, Springfield, SD) put the Vikings up four as he took a Rashaw Sides (SR, Bellevue, NE) pass and pulled up for a jumper.  Zeb Christensen (SR, State Center, IA) put the Vikings up six as he knocked down two free throws.  Jacob Spielbauer then drew the Statesmen even as he knocked down two three pointers in a thirty second span.  William Penn then took control with their outside shooting going up by as many as eight points with less than five minutes to go.  Eric Maassen (SO, Hancock, IA) knocked down a jumper to pull Dana within three.  Then Zach Genant pulled the Vikings even as he knocked down a jumper.  Dana took a three point lead into the locker room at half as Doug Huston knocked down two free throws.

The second half would become a three point shooting fest.  William Penn made their living in the second half as they made 7 of 13 three pointers.  Dana came out and withstood a flurry of William Penn shots.  Ted Cox (SR, Hawley, MN) knocked down a three pointer to put the Vikings up 50-44.  The Vikings would then stretch their lead to nine with 13 minutes left to go in the game.  Eric Maassen would take a Nate Thies (JR, Norfolk, NE) pass and nail the jumper.   The Statesmen hit four three-pointers in a two minute span to pull ahead by five in the final five minutes.  Dana pulled within one point in the final ten seconds of the game as Jared Kitzelman (SR, Fremont, NE) knocked down a trey.  The Vikings were forced to foul.  Joseph Powell of William Penn knocked down both free throws to move the margin to three.  Doug Huston’s last second effort to tie the game fell a bit short.

The Vikings had four players in double digit scoring.  Teddy Cox led the Vikings with 19 points and five assists.  Trent Mumma (JR, Bennington, NE) added 14 points and three assists.  Huston added 13 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.  Eric Maassen chipped in 12 points.  Jared Kitzelman had three rebounds and three steals in his season début for Dana.

The loss drops Dana College to 1-4 on the year.  The Vikings will host Hastings College on Saturday afternoon.  This will be the first conference game of the season for Dana.  Tip off is slated for 4:00pm.

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