Fifth-ranked Jimmies fall to DWU in GPAC opener

The fifth-ranked University of Jamestown men's basketball team shot just 18 percent from three-point range and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) University missed only nine shots in the second half as the Tigers took an 80-68 victory Wednesday evening at Harold Newman Arena.

Mason Walters (SR/Jamestown, ND) tied a career high with 38 points, making 16 of 24 shots overall. The rest of the Jimmies connected on 12 of 40 attempts (2-of-21 three-point FG) and scored just 30 points.

UJ led 16-5 after Reid Gastner (SO/Lake City, MN)'s three-pointer with 12:07 left in the first half, but DWU went on an 12-0 run over the next 4:56 to take the lead. Blaze Lubbers converted a three-point play, the first of four straight lead changes.

Koln Oppold poured in 12 of the Tigers' next 14 points as the Jimmies fell behind by nine points with 1:02 remaining in the half. Gastner knocked down another three-pointer to cut the deficit to six heading into the break.

Jamestown got as close as 48-47 after a Walters three at the 12:07 mark and DWU responded with 11 of the next 13 points, putting the Jimmies down by double digits.

One final push by UJ saw them trim the lead to four with 3:52 to play, then back-to-back buckets by Oppold began a 12-4 run to close out the game. Jamestown missed its final five three-point attempts and hit on three of 16 in the second half. While the Jimmies struggled from the outside, DWU shot 67 percent overall and on threes in the final 20 minutes.

Cole Woodford (JR/Redwood Falls, MN) added nine points and four steals, and Gastner pulled down nine rebounds to go along with seven points. Marc Kjos (SR/Lake City, MN) passed out four assists.

Oppold led DWU with 30 points and seven rebounds, and was joined in double figures by Jakob Dobney with 19 and Kallan Herman with 10.

Jamestown (3-1, 0-1 GPAC) plays at Midland (Neb.) Saturday starting at 7:45 p.m.