Nebraska Wesleyan picked up their first win over Mount Marty in Yankton, S.D., since 2003 as the Prairie Wolves used a strong second half to earn a 63-52 victory over the Lancers in GPAC men's basketball action on Saturday (Dec. 15) in Yankton, S.D.

The Prairie Wolves now improve to 6-5 overall and 2-5 in the GPAC as they will head to the holiday break with momentum. NWU will have two weeks off before their next game on Dec. 29 at Monmouth College.

It didn't look good for the Prairie Wolves early as Mount Marty jumped ahead to an early 9-0 lead. NWU quickly subbed out the starting five and made a run of their own. Sparked by three 3-pointers from freshman Trey Bardsley, NWU scored 13 straight points to take a 13-9 lead.

At halftime the two teams were tied at 23-23 with the game being tied four separate times in the first 20 minutes.

In the second half, Nebraska Wesleyan pounded the ball inside and the Prairie Wolves big men took over the game. Trevor Johnson, Tim Schweitzer and Trent Scheitel scored the first 16 points of the second half for the Prairie Wolves as they built up a double-digit lead.

NWU led by as many as 14 points in the second half then held on for the 11-point victory. The Prairie Wolves shot 50.0 percent from the field as a team and were 5-14 from 3-point range.

Eric Jackson led the Prairie Wolves with 11 points. Trevor Johnson scored 10 points, all in the second half, and Bardsley finished with 10 points.

Saladin Smith led Mount Marty with 12 points.