In front of a electrifying crowd at the Stewart Center, the University of Sioux Falls men's basketball team (23-8 overall) earned their third straight trip to the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championship game with a 74-68 win over Dakota Wesleyan University in one conference semifinal game.

Sophomore David Maxwell (Parkston, S.D.) scored 20 points to lead all scorers and junior Kelly Hubbard nearly had his second straight double-double with 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

USF made their first break of the game midway through the first half with an 8-0 run that put the score at 20-12 in favor of the Cougars. DWU made two three point shots of the half to climb back into the game, eventually tying the score at 29 with 5:53 left. USF scored the last nine points of the half, including a three pointer by Maxwell with seven seconds remaining, to lead 41-31.

USF maintained a steady four to 10 point lead through the first 18 minutes of the second half. DWU then made a late run in an attempt to own their first lead of the second period. Tiger Brady Wiebe turned a layup into a three point play via a foul and Larry Swann added a three point shot to quickly close the score to 70-68 with just 48 seconds left.

The Cougars ran the clock down on their next possession and Maxwell squeezed past the Tiger defense to increase USF's lead to 72-68. A pair of Hubbard free throws iced the game at 74-68.

USF made 24 of 28 free throws today, including a perfect six of six from Hubbard.

In the other conference semifinal game No. 5 seed Dordt College (19-11 overall) defeated No. 1 seed Northwestern College 79-61 to advanced to the championship game.

The Cougars will host the Defenders this Tuesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Stewart Center. It will be the first time USF has hosted the GPAC championship game since 2004, when the Cougars defeated Doane College 80-63.