LINCOLN, Neb – Nebraska Wesleyan was just one 3-pointer shy of tying a school record as the Prairie Wolves nailed 22 from long range on their way to a 117-54 route of Iowa Wesleyan on day one of the 29^th Annual Snyder Classic that was held Friday night at Snyder Arena.
 
Nine different players made a 3-pointers on the night with NWU shooting 52.4 percent from deep making 22-42 on the red-hot shooting performance. 
 
The Prairie Wolves jumped out to a 56-19 lead at halftime then scored 61 points in the second half as they cruised to the win and improved to 3-0 on the season.  Nebraska Wesleyan's bench scored 67 points to outscore the Tigers by 13 points.
 
NWU came out quick in their home opener getting out to a 21-4 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half.  Iowa Wesleyan converted only one field goal during that span and finished the half shooting 20.0 percent (5-25).
 
Dylan Dirks came off the bench to score 18 points in the first half, making 5-7 from the field, 3-5 on 3-pointers and a perfect 5-5 at the charity stripe.  Dirks ended the game with a career-high 23 points to lead all scorers.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan extended their 37-point halftime lead to 48 points just over four minutes into the second half, going on a quick 17-6 run that included several highlights.  Seven points were on fast breaks and Nate Bahe hit back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by an emphatic dunk from Jack Hiller to end the run.
 
Reserve players played the final two-thirds of the second half with 10 different bench players getting into the scoring column.
 
Three players reached double figures for NWU, led by Dirks with 23 points.  The Prairie Wolves shot 56.8 percent in the second half, making 12-17 on 3-pointers for 70.6 percent.  They ended the game shooting an even 50 percent.
 
Nate Bahe, making his third straight start at point guard, finished with 19 points, five rebounds and five assists.  He was 5-8 on 3-pointers and had a fast break slam dunk of his own in the first half.
 
Cooper Cook recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four assists, three blocks and two steals.  Cook was 4-7 on 3-pointers.
 
Ryan Garver pulled down nine rebounds with seven points and five assists. Austin Hall came off the bench to lead NWU with nine assists as the Prairie Wolves finished with 34 as a team and only eight turnovers.
 
Iowa Wesleyan was led by Brock Butler with 17 points.
 
NWU will take on Bethany Lutheran College on day two of the Snyder Classic on Saturday (Nov. 25) at 5 pm.  The Prairie Wolves will be going for their 14^th straight win at the Snyder Classic.
 
Bethany Lutheran defeated Carroll (Wis.) 74-69 in the first game of the night.