The Dakota Wesleyan men’s basketball team takes on rival Dakota State on Saturday in Madison at 2 p.m. The Tigers defeated Dakota State back on Oct. 27 by a 74-52 final and controlled the pace of play throughout the game.
Dakota State comes into Saturday’s game with a 2-7 record. Most recently, the Trojans defeated Trinity Bible College by a wide margin and then on Tuesday lost to NCAA Div. II University of Sioux Falls 71-61. On Nov. 13, Sioux Falls defeated the No. 1 team in Div. II Northwest Missouri State University 83-77.
Tigers head coach Matt Wilber expects tomorrow’s game in Madison to be a battle.
“They’ve had some tough games against good teams and played some really good teams really well — in and out of our level,” coach Wilber said. “(Dakota State was) already talking about it when we went up and played a JV game. Their varsity guys were already chirping at us that this was going to be a different game.”
Dakota Wesleyan comes into this matchup trying to end a four-game slide that started on Nov. 6 with an overtime loss to Valley City State.
“College basketball games typically come down to what team wants it more and who is willing to die out there on the court for possessions,” coach Wilber said. “If there are major disparities between the two teams in talent levels — which this game doesn’t have at all — then that stuff can doesn’t matter. But when you have similar talent on similar talent, it’s going to come down to making some shots, and it’s going to come down to who cares more about getting a ball, getting a rebound, or getting a defensive stop.”
Dakota Wesleyan versus Dakota State tips at 2 p.m. in Madison. We will start coverage on KMIT 105.9 and online at KMIT.com at 1:40 p.m.