Dakota Wesleyan uses late run to defeat Valley City State

Dakota Wesleyan defeated Valley City State on Saturday night to finish the CorTrust Classic with a win.

The Tigers, who had a narrow 48-45 lead with 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, extended their advantage through sustained offensive pressure. A 13-1 run took DWU ahead 61-46, a gap that VCSU never closed. The Vikings trailed by 11 points for the remainder of the game, while the Tigers built their lead to a final margin of 19 points.

The final score was 75-56 in favor of Dakota Wesleyan. The team recorded 19 assists and committed six turnovers. Braelyn Dale led the scoring with 12 points. Oliver Vincent contributed 11 points and seven assists. Tyson Stevenson added 10 points, and Easton Neuendorf provided nine points, six assists, and four rebounds.

Shooting efficiency distinguished the two teams. Dakota Wesleyan made 30 of 53 field goal attempts, an overall percentage of 56.6%. The Tigers also made eight of 16 three-point attempts. Valley City State shot 41.1% from the field, making 23 of 56 attempts. Their performance from long range was less effective, as they made only five of 24 three-point shots, a 20.8% clip.

Despite the shooting disparity, the Vikings controlled the glass. VCSU grabbed 32 rebounds to DWU's 20. Seydou Tamboura led the Vikings with eight rebounds and eight points. Damian Pearson led all scorers with 15 points but was the only Valley City State player to score in double figures.

The Tigers won the game in the paint and on defensive stops. They outscored the Vikings 42-26 in the restricted area. Dakota Wesleyan also capitalized on opponent mistakes, scoring 16 points off turnovers compared to seven for VCSU.

The next game for Dakota Wesleyan is a road trip to Des Moines, Iowa. The Tigers will face Grand View University on Tuesday, Nov. 3.