Vikings Split a Pair of GPAC Games
 

The Dana College men’s basketball teams split a pair of conference basketball match-ups last week.  On Wednesday evening, Dana defeated Doane 58-53 at home.  Then Saturday afternoon, the Vikings were shut down by eighth-ranked Dakota Wesleyan 84-67.
 
Dana was looking to avenge a 93-90 overtime loss in January to Doane.  The Vikings never trailed in the first half against the Tigers.  Dana started the game with a 7-2 run.  Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) gave the Vikings a five-point lead as he connected on a lay-up and was fouled.  The Vikings kept the Tigers at bay throughout the first half with an array of jumpers and lay-ups. Dana went into the locker room at half up 22-15.
 
Trent Mumma (SR, Bennington, Neb.) and Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) kept the Viking lead at seven with their solid inside play. The Tigers used a 10-0 run to take its first lead of the game six minutes into the second half.  Trent Albers (SR, Davenport, Neb.) pulled the Vikings within one as he put back a missed shot.  Gabe Bross (JR, Omaha, Neb.) put Dana back up for good as he hit a lay-up in the paint.  AJ Arkfeld (SO, Harlan, Iowa hit two free throws in the final minute to put the game out of reach. The final margin of victory was 58-53.
 
Maassen came up huge with 22 points and nine rebounds. Bross was also in double digits with 11 points and eight rebounds.  Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) dished out a game-high five assists.
 
Dana traveled to Mitchell, S.D., on Saturday afternoon to take on eighth-rated Dakota Wesleyan. The Vikings looked to upset the Tigers, who knocked off the nation’s top rated team, Morningside College, earlier in the week.
 
DWU was ready for the upstart Vikings.  The Tiger defense held Dana to 39-percent shooting in the first half. Dana held tough early on as Johnson drained a pair of free throws. Dakota Wesleyan went on a 21-4 run to stretch the lead to 17 points.  Dana fought back with a pair of free throws by Huston and Bross to pull within ten points with 1:25 left in the half.  A Maassen jumper drew the Vikings within 40-32 at the close of the first half.  
 
The second half saw Dana close within five points following a pair of Mumma three-pointers.  Dakota Wesleyan tried to put the game out of reach, but Dana held firm. Maassen took a Johnson pass for an uncontested lay-up to draw Dana within four points. Bross, on the following possession, nailed a jumper to bring the score to 57-55 with 10:22 remaining.
 
Dakota Wesleyan did not let the game get out of hand.  The Tigers tightened up their defense and finished the game on a 27-12 run. The Vikings missed their final four shots of the game.  DWU prevailed 84-67.
 
Maassen led the Vikings with 20 points and nine rebounds. Bross ended the evening with 15 points and seven rebounds.  Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.) pulled down six rebounds and had six points.
 
The Vikings are now 12-15 overall and 5-10 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.  Dana will travel to Hastings, Neb., on Wednesday evening.  The Broncos escaped Blair with a 71-65 win in December.  
 
Dana will host its last home game of the regular season on Feb. 16 as top-rated Morningside comes to town.
 

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