A late 8-0 Tigers' run proved to be the difference as 19th-ranked Northwestern lost to No.7 Dakota Wesleyan 73-69 in a home GPAC match-up played tonight at the Bultman Center. 

Northwestern falls to 6-3 in conference play, 14-5 overall, and has lost for the third time in five games. Dakota Wesleyan improves to 7-2 in the GPAC, 15-3 overall, and remains two games in back of unbeaten and top-ranked Morningside. 

A pair of Trent Hilbrands free throws put Northwestern up 65-61 with 7:12 left to play but DWU responded with an 8-0 run, finished off with two Sam McCloud three-pointers to give the Tigers a 69-65 lead. The Red Raiders went scoreless for nearly four minutes, missing on four straight field goal attempts. 

Jay Small scored on a jumper to make it a two-point game (71-69) and, following a pair of misses by DWU from the free throw line, Northwestern had a chance to tie or take the lead with 1:30 left. Small's three-point attempt missed and the Tigers converted 2-of-4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Northwestern shot 44% for the game, 48% (14/29) from the three-point line, and was led by Small with 21 points and seven rebounds. Hilbrands scored 20 and Sterk added 14 points and three rebounds. Isaac Heyer scored all nine of his points from beyond the arc and pulled down five rebounds. 

The Red Raiders fell behind by nine (17-8) early as Dakota Wesleyan had the hot hand, making four three-pointers in the first seven minutes. Head Coach Kris Korver's squad came back with a 13-5 run, and, after a runner by Grant DeMeulenaere, trailed by one, 22-21. A three-pointer from Small gave Northwestern its first lead (26-25) at the 5:47 mark and the hosts brought a 40-38 advantage into halftime.

Behind the spot-on shooting from Small, who hit three three-pointers in a span of 90 seconds, Northwestern pushed its lead to seven, 55-48, at the 14-minute mark. DWU, however, outscored the hosts 11-5 to get back within one, 60-59, with under 10 minutes left. 

Jeffery Schuch led the short-handed Tigers with 19 points, followed by McCloud with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Koln Oppold contributed 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. DWU held a 33-29 edge on the boards.