Jimmies down #11 Dakota Wesleyan

The University of Jamestown men's basketball team returned to Harold Newman Arena Wednesday and picked up its biggest win of the season, a 74-66 victory over 11th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) University.

Jamestown improves to 13-5 overall and 9-4 in the GPAC, while DWU falls to 14-4 overall and 10-3 in the conference.

An 8-0 run to open the second half turned UJ's one-point halftime lead into a nine-point cushion at the 18:29 mark of the second half.

After maintaining the lead between four and seven points for the next six minutes, the Jimmies once again led by nine after Mason Walters (SO/Jamestown, ND) scored to make it 51-42.

Dakota Wesleyan responded with a three-point play by Ace Zorr, and baskets by Sawyer Schultz and Nick Harden were part of a 9-3 run that brought the Tigers within three points at the 10:11 mark.

The Jimmies responded as Walters, Jack Talley (SR/Sioux Falls, SD), and Brady Birch (SR/Melrose, MN) scored on three straight possessions, and Walters converted a three-point play to make it 63-53 with 7:13 to go.

A Schultz three-pointer and Zorr bucket made it a five-point game once again, but Allante' Pickens (SR/Chicago, IL) drilled a three with 3:21 remaining to put UJ ahead by eight.

Walters led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Talley finished with 13 and eight rebounds, while Pickens came off the bench to score 12, and Birch was also in double figures with 10 points.

Jamestown shot 47.5 percent (28-for-59) overall and made 6-of-17 three-point attempts (35.3 percent). UJ was 12-for-18 (66.7 percent) at the foul line. The Jimmies were outrebounded 41-31 but turned the ball over just nine times to DWU's 15.

UJ is back in action Saturday hosting Mount Marty (S.D.) University at 2 p.m.