FOREST CITY, IOWA — Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball survived a second-half surge from Waldorf to earn a hard-fought 94-87 win on Wednesday night. The Tigers improved to 14-11 overall and 9-8 in conference play, while the Warriors fell to 6-19, 2-15.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair, with Dakota Wesleyan edging ahead 49-37 thanks to a balanced attack from Oliver Vincent, Tyson Stevenson, and Steele Morgan. Vincent led all scorers in the first half, finishing with 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Morgan dominated the boards with 12 rebounds, adding 18 points, while Stevenson contributed 15 points, including several key three-pointers.
Waldorf, despite trailing by 12 at halftime, refused to go quietly. Conner Aldridge scored 22 points and Nick Graves added 18, keeping the Warriors within striking distance. Waldorf outscored Dakota Wesleyan 50-45 in the second half, fueled by a series of timely threes and fast-break layups.
Key moments in the second half included a three-point flurry from Dakota Wesleyan’s Easton Neuendorf and CJ Banks, who combined for multiple shots that kept the Tigers ahead. Morgan and Stevenson also chipped in with critical rebounds and defensive plays, staving off a late push from the Warriors.
Dakota Wesleyan shot 56% from the field and connected on 12-of-23 three-pointers, while Waldorf shot 51% with seven treys. The Tigers also excelled at the line, hitting 20-of-24 free throws to seal the victory.
The Tigers will be at Mt. Marty on Saturday at 3:45 pm.
Stat Leaders:
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Dakota Wesleyan: Oliver Vincent 20 pts, 3-pt shooting 3-5; Steele Morgan 18 pts, 12 reb; Tyson Stevenson 15 pts.
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Waldorf: Conner Aldridge 22 pts; Nick Graves 18 pts; Cohen Aldridge 12 pts, 7 ast.