Box Score The most successful Nebraska Wesleyan men's basketball season in 13 years came to an end on Wednesday night (Feb. 26) as the Prairie Wolves dropped a heartbreaking 73-69 loss to Hastings College in the GPAC Quarterfinals at Lynn Farrell Arena in Hastings, Neb.
NWU finishes the season with a 15-11 overall record, the most wins since 2000-01.
Hastings College, the No. 4 seed, hit 10-10 free throws in the final seconds as NWU tried to mount a late rally.
Trey Bardsley converted an old-fashioned 3-point play with 19.6 seconds remaining to cut the Hastings lead to one point at 65-64. A pair of free throws put the Broncos up by three but Bardsley came back down to hit another layup with 14.3 remaining to cut the lead back to one point at 67-66.
After two more free throws by Brady Lollman with just under ten seconds remaining, NWU came down on the offensive attack to try and set up a 3-point shot by Bardsley. Brett Wells stole the pass and went to the other end where he was fouled. Wells converted a pair of free throws to go up by four points. Bardsley did hit a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 71-69, but two more Lollman free throws sealed the win.
NWU led by five points at halftime 30-25 and led the majority of the second half. Hastings finally took the lead at 56-55 on a free throw by Ibou Fall with 5:50 remaining and they would never trail again. Wells hit a basket to go up by three points and the Prairie Wolves never could get closer than one point.
NWU was led by
Trey Bardsley who scored 20 points, hitting 3-6 from 3-point range.
Trevor Johnson had a double-double of 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds and
Eric Jackson also scored in double figures with 13 points.
Brady Lollman scored a game-high 34 points to lead all scorers. He was 12-24 from the field and 9-10 at the free throw line.
The Prairie Wolves shot 52.1 percent from the game and a season-best 12-13 at the free throw line, but did commit 17 turnovers.
It was a valiant effort and tough way to finish the season for a group of seven Nebraska Wesleyan seniors who had a terrific four-year career.
