 | 64 |
 | 83 |
A 12-2 run to close out the first half gave the Dakota Wesleyan Tigers enough momentum to fend off the upset-minded Concordia University Bulldogs, 83-64 in the GPAC semifinal matchup Saturday night at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.
The large run to end the first half gave Dakota Wesleyan a 40-23 lead heading into halftime, and it proved to be too large a deficit for the Bulldogs to overcome. The closest the Bulldogs would come was fifteen points in the closing minutes of the second half. The Bulldogs hot shooting from 3-point land went cold during the semifinals as Concordia shot just 8-of-20 (40 percent) from deep and free throws didn't come free as Concordia hit on just 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) free throws.
Concordia was led offensively by Dusan Veselinovic with 20 points and 11 rebounds while Tyler Bredehoeft added 17 points. Chase Walder led the Tigers with 21 points.
Dakota Wesleyan advances to take on the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in the championship game of the 2009 GPAC tournament on Tuesday. Concordia holds a slight chance of an at-large bid to the 2009 NAIA National Basketball Championship tournament with the field being announced on Wednesday, March 4.