Colton Kooima poured in 25 points and Derek Buysse scored 17 in leading No.19 Northwestern to an 84-65 win over Dakota Wesleyan in the GPAC semifinals played this afternoon at the Bultman Center.

The win advances the Red Raiders to their first GPAC Championship since the 2011-12 season. They will play top-seed and No.12 Briar Cliff on Tuesday night in Sioux City, Iowa at 7pm. 

Four Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Kooima, whose 25 points moves him past Alan Visser (1986-90) and into 13th place all-time with 1,666 points. Buysse scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, draining five three-pointers. Nathan Wedel netted 11 and Jordan Baker came off the bench to score 10 and pulled down nine boards. 

How It Happened...

A three-point play by Kooima put Northwestern in front 19-9 at the 12:49 mark

Tate Martin capped a 7-0 DWU run as the Tigers were within three, 19-16; another surge by Northwestern, however, put the hosts back on top by 11, 31-20, capped by baskets by Kooima and Riley Francis.

DWU outscored Northwestern 14-3 and came back to tie it at 34; Northwestern held a slight 39-34 at the break following a Buysse three-pointer as time expired in the first half

Northwestern led the entire second half but was unable to put the Tigers away until the final 7-8 minutes; leading 66-60, the Red Raiders outscored DWU 18-5 over the final 7:36, limiting the Tigers to just two field goals. 

By the Numbers...

Northwestern shot 46% for the game, 41% (9/22) from beyond the arc; Dakota Wesleyan shot 40% for the game but was held to a season-low 14% (3/22) from the three-point line.

The Red Raiders held a big edge on the boards, 47-35, and an 8-2 advantage on the offensive glass; Northwestern has outrebounded its opponent in 12 consecutive games and in 28 of the 31 games this season

Both teams committed nine turnovers

Kooima also moved into second place for points scored as a junior, passing Jim Woudstra (1973); Kooima has scored 702 points this season, 19 shy of the record held by Bill Francis set in 1986

Wedel moved past Phil Moss (1974-78) into 35th place with 1,171 career points

Baker led the Red Raiders with nine rebounds, moving past Brandon Jacobson (2000-02) into sixth place all-time with 892 career boards

Jason Spicer led all players with 29 points; Trae Vandeberg registered a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. 

Northwestern will play in its first GPAC Championship since the 2011-12 season when they defeated Dordt 86-61 in Sioux Center