Dakota Wesleyan routs York on perimeter surge

Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball defeated York University 84-63 on Saturday in York, Neb., to improve its record to 3-1 in the new season. The victory was secured by a high-volume perimeter attack and a decisive second-half offensive push.

Easton Neuendorf led the Tigers with 21 points and eight assists in 29 minutes. He shot 8-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 from beyond the arc. Tyson Stevenson contributed 14 points, making four of his nine three-point attempts. Braelyn Dale added 12 points, while Steele Morgan scored 11.

DWU's shooting efficiency shifted the game's momentum late in the first half. Neuendorf tied the score at 39 and put the Tigers ahead with consecutive baskets. Before the halftime break, Dale sank a three-pointer to extend the lead to 44-39. The team had already knocked down nine three-pointers by the end of the first 20 minutes.

The margin widened considerably in the second half, with Dakota Wesleyan outscoring York 40-24. The Tigers shot 48% from the field during that period. They also gained a 23-14 advantage in points generated off opponent turnovers. York struggled from deep, finishing the game 4-for-18 on three-pointers and shooting 28.6% from the field in the second half.

Early in the second period, DWU executed a 16-0 run spanning nearly six minutes. Ethan Determan capped the streak with a three-pointer that stretched the lead to 21 points with 12:59 remaining. The Tigers built a maximum 28-point advantage in the final three minutes to close out the contest.

For York, Steve Samuels scored 13 points, including a 4-for-6 performance from the free-throw line. Awit Mamer added 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting. The game featured a combined 65 field goal attempts, with Dakota Wesleyan making 31 and York making 24.

Dakota Wesleyan will host Peru State University, another NAIA opponent from Nebraska, on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Corn Palace.