Mustangs open 2023 with GPAC victory

FREMONT, NEB. – Morningside's men's basketball team took the court for the first time in more than two weeks, hoping to continue the success that they saw in the 2022 part of this campaign. The Mustangs, opening today's contest with a 9-0 run, didn't look like they were missing much as they cruised to an eventual 88-81 victory.

While the Mustangs started the contest quickly, Midland, who had been on a hot streak entering the contest, didn't back down, coming back in the second half to outscore Morningside and besting the Mustangs in nearly every team statistical category. Except total points, that is, as Morningside hit 33 field goals, including eight three-pointers, and 14 free throws.

Joey Skoff led all scorers in the contest, with 25 points when the final buzzer sounded. Ely Doble followed with 20 points, making up the first half of his double-double, and Jack Dotzler and Aidan Vanderloo each had 14. Trey Powers had 10 points, and Will Pottebaum had five to wrap up all scorers.

Doble completed the double-double with 10 rebounds, split evenly between the offensive and defensive sides of the floor. Powers followed with six and Brendan Buckley had five.

Dotzler tallied seven assists, followed by Skoff, Doble, and Vanderloo who each had three. Skoff had four blocks in the contest on the way to seven team blocks and seven steals to create opportunities for the Mustangs.

Morningside, who currently holds sole possession of first place in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, thanks in part to a Jamestown win at Dordt, is back at it on Wednesday at Hastings before returning to Allee Gym on Saturday, Jan. 14, to play Doane.