Offensive Outburst in Opener Lifts Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball opened the 2024-25 season on Monday evening in Crete. The Tigers hosted Bethany with the Swedes coming in with a 1-0 record. Both teams got off to a slow start before Doane started to heat up and pull away for a 90-69 victory.

Bethany held a 4-2 lead with nearly five minutes gone in the first half of action. A layup by Brady Timm started an 8-0 run for the Tigers. At the midway mark of the half, Doane led 14-9 until Jack Wilson hit a 3-point basket to start another 8-0 run. The Tigers would finish the final five minutes of the first half with a 15-7 run, led by 10 points from Casen Chaney. Doane led 41-21 at the break.

The second half started with the Swedes going on a 10-6 run as Chaney scored all the Tiger points in the first four minutes. Bethany was able to pull within 11 points, 53-42, with 12 minutes to play. Doane kept their lead in double figures by going on a 9-0 run to push their lead back to 20 points. The Swedes were able to cut the deficit back down to 13 points with three minutes to go only to see Doane finish the game on a 15-7 run.

Chaney led the Tigers with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. He hit four 3-point baskets in the game and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Wilson added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-3 from behind the arc. Timm posted 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting and recorded team-highs with six assists and four steals. Mikah Gardner finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

As a team the Tigers shot 50-percent from the floor, 34-of-68. They hit 33-percent from behind the arc, 8-of-24, and 82-percent at the free throw line, 14-of-17. Bethany shot 40-percent from the floor, 23-of-57, and 27-percent behind the arc, 7-of-26. They were 16-of-23 at the free throw line, 70-percent.

Emmanuel Akpan led the Swedes with 18 points and eight rebounds while JR Cison added 15 points.

Doane will return to the hardwood on Thursday, October 31, when they host Manhattan Christian at 6 PM.