Vikings Upset Defenders at Home

The Dana College me’s basketball team snapped a four-game Great Plains Athletic Conference losing streak on Saturday.  The Vikings pulled an 81-77 upset over Dordt College.

Dana found itself down four points early in the first half as Dordt hit a three pointer and then capitalized on another missed shot.  Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) hit one of his three three-pointers to draw Dana within one point.  Dana then took its first lead of the game when Trent Albers (SR, Davenport, Neb.) was fouled tipping in a missed Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.) shot.  Albers nailed the bonus free throw to put Dana up two with 15:30 left in the half.  Dana stretched its lead to six points late in the half as Nate Thies (SR, Norfolk, Neb.) drained a 15-foot jumper.  The Vikings went into the halftime locker room up, 42-38.

Dana stretched its lead to as many as seven in the second half.  Dordt went on an 8-2 run midway through the second half and took a three-point lead.  The Vikings would not let this game slip through their hands.  Huston nailed a three pointer to tie the game up at 63 with 9:29 remaining. 

The Defenders took their last lead on a three-pointer with 2:47 remaining.  Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) scored on a fast break lay-up to give the Vikings their final lead.  Trent Mumma (SR, Bennington, Neb.) and Huston each hit a pair of free throws to stretch the Viking lead to three points.  Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) gave Dana its final margin of victory by draining a free throw with eight seconds left.

Gabe Bross (JR, Omaha, Neb.) and Huston led the Vikings with 18 points apiece. Johnson dished out a game-high six assists to go along with nine points and four steals. Mumma added 16 points. 

Dana’s high-pressure defense created 16 turnovers.  The Vikings were out-rebounded 44-31, but made up for the deficit by shooting 84.6 percent from the free throw line. 

Dana is now 1-4 in GPAC play and 7-8 overall.  The Vikings are off until New Year’s Eve when they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face NCAA Division II Augustana College.  Dana will next play at home on Jan. 5 against the University of Sioux Falls at 8 p.m.

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