MITCHELL, S.D. — Dakota Wesleyan’s men’s basketball team turned a tight defensive battle into a conference victory, pulling away from Waldorf for an 83–70 win inside the Corn Palace.
The game opened with both teams struggling to score, but DWU found its rhythm behind Steele Morgan. Morgan scored nine quick points early to spark the Tigers and finished with one of his strongest performances of the season: 22 points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Tyson Stevenson added early support and went on to score 10, while the Warriors kept pace as both offenses began to heat up.
Dakota Wesleyan created separation late in the first half behind a balanced attack. Randy Rosenquist Jr., the reigning GPAC Defender of the Week, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Anthony Riggans poured in 18 points with seven boards. Easton Neuendorf continued to run the offense effectively, handing out five assists and scoring 17 of his own. The Tigers’ starting five worked in sync to build a 41–29 lead heading into halftime.
Waldorf came out strong after the break, using a scoring run to cut into the deficit, but DWU quickly responded. Morgan remained the focal point of the offense, while Neuendorf and Stevenson knocked down key three-pointers to push the lead back to 57–43 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
Depth also played a role for the Tigers, with Oliver Vincent scoring off the bench and CJ Banks, Andrew Younan, and Gavin Hinker providing solid minutes. Dakota Wesleyan controlled the interior, outscoring Waldorf 40–28 in the paint, and shot more efficiently from the floor, hitting 47.5 percent compared to the Warriors’ 39.1 percent.
Riggans delivered a decisive stretch midway through the second half with a layup, back-to-back three-pointer, and a dunk to give DWU a 17-point advantage. Waldorf made one last push, cutting the lead to 10 after a series of Tiger turnovers, but Dakota Wesleyan stayed composed and closed out the win. Banks capped the run with a layup that helped seal the victory and marked the 10th career win for head coach Sam Nicholson.
Dakota Wesleyan returns to action Sunday, January 18, hosting Concordia at the Corn Palace with tipoff set for 3:45 p.m.