Every player got to play as the No. 7 Dakota Wesleyan University men’s basketball team scored 22 bench points en route to a 79-51 victory over Valley City State University last night at the Corn Palace. The Vikings fell to 2-11 overall while the Tigers improved to 10-1 overall with the win. Ty Hoglund tallied 16 points and five assists, Nic Harden added 15 points and three steals, Tyson Smiley filled the stat sheet with 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists. DWU scored 40 points in the paint and finished with 19 assists to five by the Vikings. The Tigers return to conference action as they host Doane University, 4-10 overall and 0-5 in the GPAC, at 4:00pm Saturday at the Corn Palace.
With 38 seconds to play and up by two points, senior Jessica Mieras knocked down a shot to double the lead and help secure the victory. The No. 14 Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball team fended off in-state rival, Dakota State University 87-79 last night in Madison. The Tiger women improved to 9-3 overall while the Lady Trojans fell to 2-7 overall. Kynedi Cheeseman paced the team with 31 points, 22 in the first half, on 11-of-24 shooting from the floor. Sarah Carr finished with 17 points and Maddi Reiner netted 15 points. Makaela Karst added 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists for DWU. The Tigers return home to battle Doane University, 1-9 overall and 0-5 in the GPAC, at 2:00pm Saturday in the Corn Palace.
The Dakota Wesleyan University basketball teams each dropped one spot in the NAIA Division II polls today. The Tiger men are No. 7 after suffering its first loss of the season to Mount Marty on December 4th at the palace. Meanwhile, the women are No. 14 after falling by 28 points at No. 1 Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday. The Great Plains Athletic Conference is well-represented in both polls, especially near the top. Concordia continued to be the unanimous No. 1 team on the women’s side, while Morningside (Iowa) took over the top spot on the men’s side. No. 19 Northwestern (Iowa) and No. 23 Mount Marty are both ranked on the men’s side, as well. For the women, No. 4 Hastings (Neb.), No. 6 Dordt, No. 7 Morningside and No. 12 Northwestern follow Concordia.
South Dakota State women’s basketball topped Chattanooga, 71-56, last night at Frost Arena in Brookings to advance to 7-4 on the season. Four Jackrabbits reached double figures, led by Tagyn Larson with a season-high 15 points, going 6-of-7 from the field including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Larson also lead the team defensively with six rebounds while dishing a career-best eight assists. Lindsey Theuninck turned in a career-high 13 points in her first ever start as a Jackrabbit. Paiton Burckhard recorded 11 points and 5 boards, while Sydney Stapleton added 10 points. SDSU was playing without Myah Selland and Tori Nelson due to injuries. South Dakota State continues its three-game homestand as it hosts Central Michigan on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 2:00pm with the Jackrabbit Pregame Show starting at 1:30pm.
The Q107-3 Basketball Game of the Week will tip-off this season on Friday in Emery between Corsica/Stickney and Bridgewater/Emery boys. Tune in all season for a Game of the Week plus coverage of the Hanson and DWU Classic’s this season on 107.3 FM and on-line at q107radio.com.
South Dakota State men’s basketball, 6-6 overall, returns to Brookings this weekend to open a three-game homestand. The Jackrabbits host Nebraska Kearney Friday night at 7:00pm, host Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday at 7:00pm and host Idaho December 21st also at 7:00pm. The Jackrabbit men will start the Summit League portion of their schedule on December 29th at Omaha.
The Mitchell Kernel boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will open the season at Huron on Saturday night at the Huron Arena. The KORN News Radio Pregame Show starts at 5:00pm Saturday night with the varsity girl’s game set for 5:30pm and the boys’ varsity game to follow around 7:00pm. Both Kernel basketball games can be heard on FM 101.3, AM 1490 and on-line at kornradio.com. After Saturday the Kernels boys head to Rapid City Stevens and Central on December 20th and 21st while the Kernel girls host Stevens and Rapid City Central December 20th and 21st.
The Kernel gymnastics team will compete at the Aberdeen Central Invitational on Saturday starting at 10:00am. The Kernels host their own Jill McCormick/Mitchell Invite on December 20th and 21st at the Senior High School.
The Mitchell Kernel wrestlers, 3-2 overall in duals, competes in the two-day individual Rapid City Invite, beginning on Friday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City. After this weekend the Kernels return to the mats and wrestle at home against Huron on December 19th.
The Mitchell Marlins girl’s hockey team, 2-0 overall, travels to Brookings for a 7:00pm faceoff on Saturday at Larson Ice Center.
The Mitchell Marlins boy’s hockey team, 1-2 overall, faces Brookings at 8:00pm Friday at Mitchell Activity Center.
The USD Coyote women’s basketball team will host Montana on Sunday at 1:00pm at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in Vermillion. The USD men will host Mayville State on Saturday at 3:30pm in Vermillion.
The 5th Quarter Scoreboard Show will start again for the winter sports season on Friday at 10:20pm on KORN News Radio and Q107-3. Scores, highlights, stats, game wraps, special guests and more each Friday and Tuesday nights at 10:20pm. Join Travis Kriens for the 5th Quarter Scoreboard Show.
Steve Morgan
Sports Director