Mustangs zone out Tigers to break two-game skid

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Down 13 points at the half, the Morningside University men's basketball team knew it needed to make some adjustments to avoid losing a third straight game.

The Mustangs made the changes necessary on defense, which turned into a 17-1 run Wednesday on Dakota Wesleyan en route to a 79-72 win over the Tigers.

Morningside coach Trent Miller made the decision to switch to a zone defense for a team that predominantly plays man-to-man.

"Our guys settled in and I thought we had them taking tougher shots," Miller said. "We were hoping to mix up their flow and pace of the game. Our guys did a nice job with it and we were able to make some plays in transition. We don't bring it out often, but in situations where we need to mix it up, that's where we go."

Caleb Dreckman started off the 17-1 run with two baskets early in the half. His second one came with 12 minutes, 36 seconds left in the game. Alex Wilcoxson made two free throws and Joey Skoff made a layup that reeled the Mustangs within three of the Tigers.

Dreckman and Skoff hit the next three shots, all coming from 3-point range. Dreckman also made a mid-range jumper that gave the Mustangs a five-point lead with over six minutes left.

The Mustangs sealed the game in the final minute, as Daniel Brocaille had a conventional 3-point play with 47 seconds left, and Skoff hustled for an offensive rebound off a missed free throw with 20 seconds left.

"It was a big game for us in seeing some adversity and responding in the right way," Miller said. "We needed this win. Coming off two losses, we hadn't been playing our best basketball. It was nice to get some flow again and see the guys enjoy themselves on the floor."

Skoff led with 23 points, and his seventh and eighth points put him at and beyond the 2,000-point mark. He is the first in Morningside men's basketball history to reach that feat.

Wilcoxson hit three 3s that helped him reach 15 points, while Justin Sitti had 11 and Brocaille 10.

Buckley led Morningside with seven rebounds and five assists.