Vikings Fall to Cougars
 

The first home game of 2008 was not what the doctor ordered for the Dana College men’s basketball team.  Dana shot only 27 percent from the floor and lost to the University of Sioux Falls Saturday night, 77-50.
 
Neither team could find its scoring stroke in the opening minutes of the game.  Sean Johnson (SO, Council Bluffs, Iowa) knocked down a three-pointer off a Doug Huston (JR, Olathe, Kan.) assist to score the game’s first points.  Huston tied the game at 6-6 with a three pointer of his own.  USF answered with a 5-0 run before Trent Mumma (SR, Bennington, Neb.) drained another three.  The Vikings went two of 13 to finish the first half, but trailed the Cougars by only seven points.
 
The second half was not what the Viking coaching staff was looking for.  The Cougars came out gunning, while Dana could not keep up. The Vikings found themselves down by 31 with six minutes remaining.  Trent Albers (SR, Davenport, Neb.) cut into the lead with two baskets down the stretch, but it was not enough.
 
No Viking finished in double digit scoring.  Albers led all Vikings with eight points.  Taylor Oltjenbruns (FR, Creighton, Neb.), Jon Person (JR, Olathe, Kan.), and Johnson each contributed six points.  Eric Maassen (JR, Hancock, Iowa) and Person had four rebounds apiece.  Maassen also had two blocked shots.
 
The Vikings fall to 7-10 overall and 1-5 in Great Plains Athletic Conference play.  Dana will travel to Sioux City, Iowa, on Wednesday evening to face Briar Cliff.  The Chargers are 11-6 overall and 4-2 in conference play.  Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m.

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