Top Rated Mustangs Defeat Dana

The last home men’s basketball game for the 2007-2008 season saw the number one team in the nation visit Blair.  Morningside College handed Dana an 85-63 set back.
 
The Mustangs raced out to an early 9-0 lead.  Gabe Bross (JR, Omaha, Neb.) finally put the Vikings into the scorebook three minutes into the game. Dana chipped away at the Morningside lead and pulled within five points on a Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.) jumper.  The Vikings hovered within five points until the final three minutes of the half.  The Mustangs turned up the defensive pressure and stretched the lead to 45-32 going into halftime.
 
The second half saw Morningside flex its rebounding muscles, stretching the lead to 18 points midway through the second half. Bross remained a force in the lower post as he drew Dana within 14, 64-50.  Zach Genant (JR, Springfield, S.D.) brought the Vikings to within 13 points as he completed a three-point play the old fashioned way.  Genant was fouled as he connected on a lay-up.  His subsequent free throw brought the score to 76-53 with 4:22 remaining.  These were the last points the Vikings would score.  The Mustangs finished the game on a 9-0 run.
 
Bross led all scorers with 23 points off the bench.  Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) added 14 points and eight rebounds.  Maassen and Person dished out three assists each to lead the Vikings.
 
Dana celebrated the careers of four seniors before the start of the game.  Trent Mumma (Bennington, Neb.), Trent Albers (Davenport, Neb.), Nate Thies (Norfolk, Neb.), and Scott Leisey (Atkinson, Neb.).  Dana Head Coach Chris Fear thanked the players for their contributions to the Viking basketball program.
 
Dana falls to 13-16 overall and 6-11 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.  Dana wraps up its regular season on Saturday traveling to Seward, Neb., to take on Concordia University (10-18, 4-13). The Vikings defeated the Bulldogs 84-62 in Blair earlier in the season.  GPAC play-off match-ups will be posted after Saturday’s games.
 

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