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N.D. (JimmieAthletics.com) – Jon Purintun (JR/Linton, N.D.) scored a career high 30 points, 26 coming in the second half, and Leighton Sampson(SR/Worthington, Minn.) added 25 as the Jimmie men’s basketball team defeated 10th-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) University Wednesday night at Harold Newman Arena.

The Tigers took an early 22-8 lead against the Jimmies, and stretched their lead to 17 after Nygel Drury made a three-pointer with 7:49 left in the half. Jamestown closed out the half on a 19-6 run to trail 39-35 at the half.

Purintun gave UJ its first lead of the night after draining a bucket to make it 45-43 with 17:05 to play. The teams traded leads, none bigger than three points, until a three-pointer by Sam Johnson (SR/Mora, Minn.) tied the game for the last time at the 6:26 mark. Johnson finished with eight points, four rebounds, and four assists.

The Jimmies (6-2) assumed the lead for good after Purintun made a pair of free throws with 5:37 in the game, and DWU was unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the way.

Jason Spicer had 26 points for the Tigers, who fall to 4-1 on the season. Trae Vandenberg had 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Drury also scored 14 and Ty Hoglund finished with 10 points and four assists.

Jamestown shot 55.9 percent in the game while DWU finished at 60.4 percent. The Tigers outrebounded the Jimmies 23-20 but committed seven more turnovers (18-11).

Next up for the Jimmies is an exhibition game at the University of Mary on Monday at 7 p.m.