LINCOLN, Neb. -- Doane scored the final 11 points of the game and had two shots in the last seconds but a layup and putback didn't fall as Nebraska Wesleyan University escaped with a 88-87 victory over the Tigers in a GPAC men's basketball thriller on Wednesday night (Jan. 13) at Snyder Arena.

The biggest crowd of the season was treated to an exciting finish in a game that seemed out of hand at times.  The Prairie Wolves got a fast break full court layup from Travis Giesselmann with exactly 4:00 to play to put NWU ahead 88-76.  That would be the last time the Prairie Wolves scored the rest of the way as the nation's top scoring team was held in check.

Doane got within three points on a layup from Trevor Cyboron with 1:19 remaining.  A foul on the other end sent Giesselmann to the line where he missed two free throws.  The Tigers drove to the hoop and earned a foul as Cyboron sunk two free throws to make the score 88-87 with 35 seconds left.

NWU held the ball before Doane finally fouled with 19 seconds left sending Keithan Karn to the charity stripe.  He missed both attempts giving the Tigers the ball with a chance to win.  Cyboron drove the right side of the basket and attempted a layup that came up short.  Nate Kuhl attempted a putback as time expired but it was also short as the Prairie Wolves survived.

NWU led 56-43 at halftime as they shot 52.6 percent from the field and made 11-23 from long range in in the first half.  They made only 3-15 in the second half to finish with 14 made 3-pointers.

Travis Giesselmann had a huge first half with 23 points, and went on to record a double-double with 35 points and 11 rebounds.  He also had three assists and three steals, but made only 4-12 at the free throw line.

Three other players reached double figures for the Prairie Wolves.  Cooper Cook had 16 points and eight rebounds, making 4-8 from 3-point land.  Keithan Karn had 13 points and Trey Bardsley scored 12.  Bardsley sat on the bench for most of the second half with foul trouble and was held to a season-low in points.

Doane shot 55.1 percent from the floor for the game and 60.0 percent from 3-point land.  The Tigers hit 12-20 from 3-point range.

Deonte Holt scored 27 points before fouling out to lead Doane.  Trevor Cyboron finished with 21 points and Rylee Zimmerman came off the bench to record a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.

It was the final time NWU and Doane met in Lincoln as conference rivals in the 197th all-time meeting.

NWU returns home on Saturday to face Morningside College.