LINCOLN, Neb. (February 21, 2024) - As the top seed in the American Rivers Conference men's basketball tournament, Nebraska Wesleyan will host the conference semifinals. The Prairie Wolves will face off against the University of Dubuque.
GAME TIME, LIVE STREAM & LIVE STATS
The semifinal game will be played on Thursday, February 22nd. Game time is TBA. Nebraska Wesleyan's team1sports page will live stream the game. Nebraska Wesleyan will carry live stats.
ADMISSION INFORMATION
Admission for adults will be $8. Admission for students and seniors will be $5. Admission for children under five is free.
SEASON RESULTS
- Nebraska Wesleyan and Dubuque split the regular-season series. Nebraska Wesleyan lost to Dubuque 72-57 on November 21, 2023. The Prairie Wolves defeated the Spartans 59-43 on January 24, 2024.
SCOUTING THE PRAIRIE WOLVES
The American Rivers Conference regular season champion Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves enter Thursday ranked 17th in the country and sporting a 22-3 record. Peter Lash has scored a team-high 437 points and is averaging 17.5 points per game. Lash has also recorded a team-high 191 rebounds and is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. Carter Glenn leads the Prairie Wolves in assists with 87 and steals with 68. Jack Groeteke has recorded a team-high 44 blocks. As a team, Nebraska Wesleyan is averaging 77.2 points per game. The Prairie Wolves are shooting .461 from the floor with a .327 mark from three. Nebraska Wesleyan is shooting .785 from the free throw line. Defensively, the Prairie Wolves are allowing 66.8 points per game.
HEAD COACH DALE WELLMAN'S PROFILE
Dale Wellman is in his 10th year as the head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan. Wellman enters Thursday with a 190-66 record. In his tenure, Wellman has won two national coach of the year and seven conference coach of the year awards. In 2018, he coached Nebraska Wesleyan to a 30-3 overall record and its first national championship. Wellman has won five regular-season conference titles and three conference tournament titles.
NEBRASKA WESLEYAN AMERICAN RIVERS CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Nebraska Wesleyan won three straight conference titles in 2017–18, 2018–19, and 2019–20. Last season, the Prairie Wolves fell to Coe in the semifinals, 78-60.
CHAMPIONSHIP CULTURE
Nebraska Wesleyan boasts a history of excellence. Winning the national championship in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 1997. The Prairie Wolves have made five NCAA Division III Final Fours, appeared in 17 NCAA Division III tournaments, and won 16 conference championships.
TOP OF THE CONFERENCE
- Peter Lash ranks first in the conference in minutes per game. He is averaging 35.6 minutes per game. Lash is also third in both rebounds per game (7.6) and free throw percentage (88.0).
- Carter Glenn ranks first in the conference in steals with 68.
- Jack Groeteke ranks second in the conference in blocks with 44.
AROUND THE ARC
Tuesday's Quarterfinal Action
No. 4 Dubuque vs. No. 5 Central - 7:30p
No. 3 Loras vs. No. 6 Buena Vista - 6:00p
Thursday's Semifinal Action
No. 1 Nebraska Wesleyan vs. No. 4 Dubuque - 6:00 p.m.
No. 2 Coe vs. No. 3 Loras - 7:00 p.m.
Championship Saturday
Semifinal #1 Winner vs. Semifinal #2 Winner - TBA
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- Dubuque enters Tuesday's quarterfinal with Central with a 20-5 record.
- The Spartans leading scorer is Jaylin McCants. McCants is averaging 18.3 points per game.
- Dubuque is averaging 74.5 points per game and allowing 62.9 points per game.
- The Spartans are coached by Robbie Sieverding, who is in his 17th season.
