Vikings Get the Win in Double OT

Saturday’s match-up between the Dana Vikings and Midland Lutheran was one for the record books.  The double overtime contest was the longest game in the two-year history of the MLC Event Center for Athletics and Conferencing. The Vikings came away with a 92-90 victory in double overtime.

Things did not look good for the Vikings to start the game.  Midland opened the game on an 11-4 run.  Trent Mumma (SR, Bennington, Neb.) drew Dana within four points with a lay-up with 13:26 remaining.  The Warriors responded by going on a 9-2 run to push the lead to 22-11 with under ten minutes left in the half.  Dana responded again and cut the lead to three points on an Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) jumper.  The Vikings could not draw closer as the half ended and went into the locker room down by five.

It seemed that Dana left its shooting touch in the locker room to start the second half.  The Vikings missed five consecutive shots as Midland built a 13-point lead in the opening minutes of the second half. 

Dana did not let the game get away from them as they turned up the defensive pressure.  The Vikings forced three Warrior turnovers as they cut the lead to 49-45.  The two teams exchanged baskets before Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) and Trent Albers (SR, Davenport, Neb.) each connected on a pair of free throws. 

Dana took its first lead of the game with 10:41 remaining in regulation on Albers’ pair of free throws.  Once again, Midland responded with a 13-6 run to push the lead to seven points with less than four minutes remaining.  Maassen drained a pair of free throws and hit a jumper to draw Dana within three points.  Mumma and Albers each hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to two points with 47 seconds remaining.  Dana was forced to foul Midland to get the ball back.  The Warriors missed a pair of free throws to set up the last Viking chance. Johnson nailed a jumper as the buzzer sounded to force overtime.

Midland raced out to a four-point lead in the added period.  The patient Vikings kept within striking distance.  Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) hit one of two free throws and a jumper to cut the lead to one point with three minutes remaining. Johnson gave Dana a one-point lead in the closing minute of overtime as he sank two free throws.  Midland then took a three-point lead with under a minute left.  Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.) put the game into a second overtime as he stroked a game tying trey with 14 seconds left.

In the second overtime, the Vikings broke the Warriors will.  The two teams exchanged baskets until AJ Arkfeld (SO, Harlan, Iowa) hit a jumper to give Dana a one-point lead. Huston extended the lead to four as he hit a three pointer.  Zach Genant (JR, Springfield, S.D.) put the game away with two free throws with 39 seconds remaining.

The Vikings had three players with 16 points. Huston, Maassen, and Person combined for half of Dana’s total points. Mumma added 12 points and seven rebounds. Johnson chipped in 11 points and had four steals.

Dana improved to 9-12 overall and 2-7 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.  The Vikings look to extend their conference winning streak on Wednesday night at home against Concordia University.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

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