Warriors Start New Year Strong, Snap Losing Streak at Waldorf

FOREST CITY, Iowa — Midland University kicked off the New Year on the road, traveling to Forest City, Iowa, to face Waldorf University in a Thursday night Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) showdown. A balanced offensive attack propelled Midland to an 89-72 victory.

Waldorf opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers, sparking an early 6-1 run. Rece Kissinger quickly answered with a three-pointer, igniting a dominant 16-1 run that pushed Midland to an early double-digit lead. Waldorf ended its scoring drought with a dunk, but Midland stayed hot as Trey McCain drilled a three-pointer to fuel a 6-0 run.

Waldorf managed to break through with a layup, but Midland kept the pressure on. Ryan Larsen sank another three-pointer to spark a 14-4 surge. Midland's defense held strong despite Waldorf piecing together a 6-0 run from the free-throw line. Jeff Rozelle III knocked down a three-pointer to extend Midland's lead. Waldorf closed out the half with a pair of free throws, but Midland maintained control, heading into halftime with a 43-35 advantage.

Jake Orr kicked off the second half with a layup for Midland, but Waldorf quickly responded with a three-pointer. The teams traded baskets before Waldorf found momentum with back-to-back three-pointers, cutting into the deficit. Ryan Larsen answered for Midland with a three-pointer, sparking an 8-2 run. Waldorf countered with a 4-0 run from the free-throw line before Mason Strong helped lead Midland on a 13-7 run, prompting Waldorf to call a timeout.

Following the break, with five minutes remaining, McCain knocked down a three-pointer. Waldorf responded with one of its own, keeping the pressure on. Both teams traded trips to the free-throw line, with Midland edging out a 5-2 run. Waldorf made a final push, securing four points from the free-throw line, but Jack Cooper sealed the game with the final basket for MU.

Midland snapped its five-game losing streak with the victory, shooting 30-of-59 (50.8%) from the field while holding Waldorf to 23-of-54 (42.6%). Midland capitalized on 13 Waldorf turnovers, converting them into 22 points. At the free-throw line, Midland outpaced Waldorf, shooting 73.9% compared to 66.7%.

Orr led the team with 21 points and nine rebounds. Larsen added 17 points, Rozelle III recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, McCain finished with 13 points, and Kissinger and Strong each tallied nine points.

"Proud of our effort tonight," said head coach Tyler Erwin. "From the start, we had guys diving for loose balls and creating deflections — it all started on defense. Our five solid practices set the tone for tonight's performance.

"The break helped us reenergize, refocus, and get extra shots up — and it showed. Ryan Larsen and Rece Kissinger made early shots in great rhythm within the offense. Mason Strong brought incredible energy off the bench, and Jeff Rozelle III made plays at the rim while rebounding beyond his area. It was a great team win."

Midland (7-9, 2-6 GPAC) will have a quick turnaround as it hosts No. 7-ranked Northwestern (15-0, 6-0 GPAC) on Saturday, January 4, in a conference matchup. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. inside the Wikert Event Center in Fremont, Nebraska.