Warriors Open Season with Gritty Road Win

DES MOINES, Iowa – Midland University kicked off its 2024-25 season with a non-conference game at Grand View University on Thursday night. The Warriors earned a 77-72 road victory over the Vikings thanks in part to a well-balanced team effort.

Jake Orr opened the scoring for the Warriors, quickly followed by Jeff Rozelle III. The Vikings responded swiftly, keeping the game tight in the early minutes.

Midway through the first half, Grand View surged ahead with an 11-4 run, taking a five-point lead. However, a 12-6 rally led by Cole Petersen and Rece Kissinger allowed Midland to reclaim the lead at 24-23 with 9:04 left in the half. Grand View answered with an 8-2 run to regain the advantage as the clock approached the five-minute mark.

Rozelle then sparked a critical 7-0 run, putting Midland back on top, 33-31. The two teams traded baskets in a hard-fought exchange that left them tied at 35-35 with just 51 seconds left. Ryan Larsen capped the half with a three-pointer, giving the Warriors a 38-35 lead at halftime.

The second half opened with a Grand View jump shot, setting the stage for an intense back-and-forth battle. The Warriors soon pressed on offense, launching a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 61-52 with 8:46 remaining. The Vikings broke their drought with an 8-3 run, chipping away at Midland's advantage.

Rece Kissinger then sank a jump shot, putting the Warriors back up by six. The Vikings stayed close, narrowing the lead to one point from the free-throw line with under three minutes remaining.

In a pivotal moment, Luke Gdowski and Orr each scored, extending Midland's lead to 73-68 with 31 seconds left. Both teams exchanged free throws in the final seconds, but Trey McCain sealed the win with his final points from the line, giving the Warriors a 77-72 victory in their season opener.

Four Warriors scored in double figures, led by Jake Orr with 15 points. Jeff Rozelle III added 13, while Ryan Larsen and Rece Kissinger each contributed 12. Luke Gdowski was close behind with 9 points while leading the team in rebounds with 10. Orr finished with 8 boards as both players neared a double-double in the opening game of the season.

As a team, Midland shot 45.2% (28-of-62) from the field and 72% (18-of-25) at the free-throw line, holding a 37-29 advantage in rebounds. The Warriors were limited to just 3 makes from behind the arc while Grand View cashed in on 5 three-pointers while shooting 45.6% (26-of-57) from the field and 83.3% (15-of-18) at the charity stripe.

"Great start to the year and a fantastic road win," commented head coach Tyler Erwin. "Grand View has a strong team, and I was pleased with our offensive movement and cutting. We have a lot of interchangeable parts this season and having four guys in double figures [scoring] is a testament to our teamwork. Jake Orr was crucial for us. Not only scoring but contributing in many ways. The second-half defense made the difference – we got timely stops, key rebounds, and held them to 38% shooting in the last 20 minutes. Cole Petersen, Trey McCain, and Rece Kissinger all stepped up when it mattered most."

Midland (1-0) will make a quick turnaround for its home opener this weekend. The Warriors will host Buena Vista (0-0) on Saturday, November 2. Tipoff is set for 1:00 p.m. inside the Wikert Event Center in Fremont, Nebraska.