Vikings Lose Thriller in OT

The Dana men’s basketball team needed a win in Great Plains Athletic Conference play to move out of last place in the conference standings.  Fans at Doane were treated to an overtime thriller, but Dana came up on the short end of a 93-90 overtime game 

The first half described how this game was going to turn out. Each team played tough defense and were shooting well from the floor. The Tigers finally got a bit of breathing room as they went up by nine with 10:42 left in the first half. Dana fought back after a big steal by A.J. Arkfeld (SO, Harlan, Iowa).  Arkfeld pushed the ball up the floor on the break and drained a three pointer to draw the Vikings to within four.   Gabe Bross (JR, Omaha, NE) cut the Tiger led to two points by draining a pair of free throws.  Doane used a pair of clutch field goals to hold the Vikings off going into the halftime locker room,  48-40.

The second half was a very much like the first, with each team exchanging baskets, but the Tigers were able to keep a consistent six-point lead. The game changed in the final two minutes.  Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.) nailed a three pointer with 2:21 left in the game to cut the lead to two.  Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) gave the Vikings a chance to tie the game or take the lead with a big block on the defensive end.  Maassen then was rewarded on the opposite end with a game tying lay up with 1:45 left.

After a missed shot by the Tigers, the Vikings’ Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) hit a jumper to give the Vikings the first lead of the game. Doane tied the game back up with 33 seconds left. Dana had two open shots in the closing seconds, but came up short and took the game into OT.

Overtime played out just like the first two halves. The Vikings were able to keep within striking distance throughout the period. In the final ten seconds, Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) hit two free throws to cut the lead down to two. After a quick foul by the Vikings, Doane was at the foul line with eight seconds remaining. The Tigers make one of two free throw attempts to give the Tigers a three-point lead. Dana had an opportunity to tie the game, but missed two looks from behind the arc, giving the Tigers the three point victory.

Maassen led all Vikings with 20 points and four blocked shots. Person added 18 points on four rebounds. Bross was five of seven from the floor for 13 points. Huston chipped in ten points and a game-high nine assists.

Dana is now 8-12 on the season and 1-7 in GPAC play.

For more information, please contact:  Francisco Lujan, Assistant Sports Information Director at flujan@dana.edu or 402-426-7949.