Vikings Drop Conference Game

The Viking men’s basketball team looked to rebound from two back to back losses. Dana traveled up Interstate 29 to Sioux City, Iowa, to square off against Briar Cliff. Despite shooting better than in their last game, the Vikings fell, 76-69.
 
Dana’s shooting woes continued in the first half, but the Vikings were able to make some of it up from the foul line. Dana trailed 6-0 early in the opening half, committing three early turnovers.  Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) hit a 15-foot jumper at the 14:04 mark to pull Dana within one point, but that would be the closest they would come.  Briar Cliff stretched the lead to 23-8 with less than eight minutes left in the first half.   Maassen and Trent Albers (SR, Davenport, Neb.) each nailed a pair of free throws to cut the lead to eight going into halftime.  
 
Gabe Bross (JR, Omaha, Neb.) cut the Charger lead to seven points early in the second half with a tip-in basket.  Then things got rocky for the Dana offense.  The Vikings went 11 minutes without scoring a basket from the field.  Dana knocked down 13 of 16 free throw attempts in that span, but BCU increased its lead to 19 points.  The Vikings finished the game on a 19-12 run, but were unable to force overtime.
 
Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) led all scorers with 20 points. Huston was six of 12 from the field and five of five from the free throw line. He also dished out a game-high eight assists. Maassen added 16 points and five rebounds.  Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) had a team-high six rebounds.
 
The Vikings will fall to 1-6 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference and 7-11 overall.  Dana will step out of conference play on Saturday as they match up with Grace University in Omaha at 4 p.m.  Last season, the Royals defeated Dana at home, 72-68.

For more information, please contact:  Shad Beam, Sports Information Director at 402-426-7389 or sbeam@dane.edu.