GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After the Davenport men's basketball team was able to upset the number one overall team in the NAIA tournament and defending National Champions on Saturday, the Panthers will be making their second appearance in the national semifinals as they face Dakota Wesleyan, who is making their first appearance in the NAIA DII National Championship semifinals. Tipoff between Davenport and Dakota Wesleyan is slated for 7 p.m. EDT from the Keeter Gymnasium in Point Lookout, Mo.
 
Vs. Dakota Wesleyan (NAIA Division II National Championship – Semifinals)
Date: Monday, March 16, 2015
Tipoff: 7 p.m. EDT
Location: Point Lookout, Mo. (Keeter Gymnasium)
Internet Coverage: NAIA Network (Live Stats and Video) | The DAN
Prices: NAIA Network (Live Video) - 28 games; $20 championship pass / $75 all-season pass | The DAN Audio (Audio) – Free
 
A Quick Look at Dakota Wesleyan – 31-4, 17-3 GPAC – Head Coach Matt Wilber
Dakota Wesleyan enters their first ever national semifinals as they defeated the College of Idaho on Saturday, 88-80. The Tigers lead the country in seven different categories highlighted by the being the top scoring offense in the nation as they have scored 3,041 points on the season. Four of the five starters for Dakota Wesleyan average double figures, as Jalen Voss leads the Tiger offensive attack with 21.0 points per game. The Tigers score an average of 86.9 points per game, while they allow their opponents to score just 68.8 points a game.
 
The Tigers Path to the Fab Four
The fifth-seeded Dakota Wesleyan squad entered the tournament as the fifth overall seed in the seed, and started their run with a 98-55 win over Milligan in the first round. The Tigers faced an unseeded Ashford squad in the second round, after Ashford upset Bethel in the first round. In the matchup between Dakota Wesleyan and Ashford, the Tigers were able to pull away late to win 65-49. In the quarterfinals, the Tigers faced off against the fourth seed in the tournament in the College of Idaho. After both team battled back-and-forth in a game of runs, Dakota Wesleyan edged out the College of Idaho 88-80.
 
Recapping the Quarterfinals
In the quarterfinals of the tournament, Cornerstone started off the action on Saturday as they as they edged out Saint Francis (Ind.) 75-64 to move onto the tournament semifinals. The second seeded Embry-Riddle squad was able to move to 35-1 on the season as they came from behind in the second half to Southern Oregon. Dakota Wesleyan punched their ticket to the Fab Four after beating the College of Idaho, and Davenport concluded the day beating Indiana Wesleyan, 79-74.
 
Last Time Out for the Panthers
The last game for the Panthers pitted them against the defending National Champions, and the number one overall seed in the tournament in Indiana Wesleyan. After trailing 41-38 at the half, Davenport worked stayed with the Wildcats throughout the game as they were able come from behind at take down Indiana Wesleyan, 79-74. Nick Gamble scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Panthers, while Kevin Rich chipped in with 18 points.
 
Men's Basketball Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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