YANKTON, S.D. -- In the first game of the year 2015, the Nebraska Wesleyan men's basketball team went on the road and picked up their first conference victory of the season with a 78-74 win over Mount Marty College in GPAC action.

NWU led the entire game until 3:38 remaining in the game when a pair of free throws gave Mount Marty a 71-70 lead.  The Prairie Wolves had a 10-point lead with the score 60-50 before the Lancers mounted the comeback.  That lead did not last lone for MMC as Byron Thompson put the Prairie Wolves back in front on a putback.  On the next time down the court, the Lancers turned the ball over with Thompson making the steal and finding Trey Bardlsey for a layup to go ahead 74-71,

Mount Marty didn't back down as Jackson Seitzinger hit a 3-pointer on their next possession to tie the score at 74-74 with just under two minutes remaining.  That would be the final time the Lancers would score the remainder of the contest.

Travis Giesselmann connected on a pair of free throws with 1:40 left to make the score 76-74.  Neither team was able to score the next four possessions.  After Byron Thompson missed the front end of a 1-and-1, the Lancers came down with a chance to tie or take the lead.  With the shot clock winding down, Cody Willett shot a 3-pointer from the corner that was no good as the Prairie Wolves grabbed the rebound.  Keithan Karn was sent to the free throw line and he made both attempts to seal the victory.

NWU (4-8, 1-6 GPAC) got its second straight victory despite shooting just 36.6 percent from the field.  NWU was 9-31 from 3-point land and hit only 17-27 at the free throw line.  They did hold the advantage on the glass and force Mount Marty into 17 turnovers.

Trey Bardsley led a trio of Prairie Wolves that scored in double figures. Bardsley scored 22 points making 3-9 from 3-point range with three assists, three steals and six rebounds.  Travis Giesselmann poured in 20 points doing a lot of damage at the line where he shot 7-8.  Keithan Karn scored 14 points making 3-5 from beyond the arc.

Mount Marty remains winless in GPAC play and falls to 1-13 overall.  The Lancers were led by Bud Smith with 19 points.