LINCOLN, Neb. (March 2, 2024) - After a 58-41 win over Centenary (LA) on Friday, March 1, Nebraska Wesleyan stayed in San Antonio, Tex. to take on UT-Dallas in the Round of 32. In a back-and-forth 40 minutes, the Prairie Wolves defeated the Comets, 77-63, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.  

HOW IT HAPPENED    

• Jack Groeteke made an impressive start to the game by sinking a three-pointer just 17 seconds into the contest, providing Nebraska Wesleyan with an early 3-0 lead.  
• Despite the strong start for the Prairie Wolves, the shots started falling for the Comets, allowing them to take the 11-19 lead with 13:45 to play.  
• Consecutive layups from Conner Brown allowed NWU to close the gap, but the Comets answered with a basket from deep, giving them a 22-13 lead with 11:54 remaining.  
• A three-pointer from Elijah Thatch with 7:13 remaining in the first half, cut UT-Dallas' advantage to 25-26.  
• With both teams battling for each basket, a layup from Peter Lash tied the game at 33-all with 3:29 to play.  
• With 42 seconds left in the opening half, a three-pointer from the Comets gave them a 41-39 lead going into the break. 
• In the first 20 minutes, Texas-Dallas connected on seven of 11 shots from three-point range, shooting 63.6%.  
• The Prairie Wolves' offense went straight at the Comets' defense, earning 13 attempts from the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes of, making 10 (76.9%). 
• To open the second half, a three-pointer from Peter Lash gave the Prairie Wolves the early 42-41 lead with 19:22 to play. 
• With momentum in hand, back-to-back layups from Landon Torneten gave the Black and Gold the 46-43 lead. 
•  Shots began to fall for the Nebraska Wesleyan, a three-pointer from Andrew Brewer extended NWU's lead to eight points with 12:17 remaining, 53-45. 
• Not letting up offensively, back-to-back three-pointers from Jack Groeteke and Landon Torneten advanced the Prairie Wolves' lead to 61-49 with 6:38 remaining in the game.  
• Dale Wellman's squad continued to capitalize on momentum after two slam dunks from Jack Groeteke stole all the moment from the Comets, 65-54.
• Jack Groeteke continued to be a difference-maker for NWU, hitting a corner three to put the Prairie Wolves up by 11 points with 2:07 remaining.
• As the last minute of the game ran out, the Prairie Wolves found themselves at the line, making shots to command their victory over UT-Dallas 77-63.  
• Saturday's victory solidifies Nebraska Wesleyan's spot in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2024 NCAA Division III National Tournament.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE    

• Peter Lash: 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists 
• Jack Groeteke: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists 
• Landon Torneten: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists     
• Nebraska Wesleyan:  
• FG: 50%    
• 3PT: 42%    
• FT: 83%   
• UT-Dallas:   
• FG: 36%   
• 3PT: 38%
• FT: 67% 

UP NEXT 

The Prairie Wolves move on to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2024 NCAA Division III National Tournament and will play, Friday, March 8.