Preview: Briar Cliff Looks to Sweep Season Series Against Doane

CRETE, Neb. (Interstat) — The Briar Cliff men’s basketball team will aim for a regular-season sweep when it visits Doane in a Great Plains Athletic Conference NAIA matchup Saturday at the Haddix Center.

The Chargers (7-7) defeated the Tigers (5-6) decisively, 81-60, in their first meeting on Nov. 22 in Sioux City, Iowa. Briar Cliff will look to replicate that performance and climb back to .500 in conference play.

Briar Cliff enters on a two-game skid, most recently falling 76-61 at Bethel (Kan.) on Dec. 30. The Chargers have relied heavily on guard Jaxson Wingert, who is coming off a 26-point effort in that loss. Over his last five games, Wingert is averaging 17.4 points, including a 24-point performance in a loss to Graceland on Dec. 15. Support from Blake Sindelar, who had 14 points, six rebounds and six assists against Bethel, will be crucial.

Doane snapped a two-game losing streak with a 68-65 road win at Mount Marty on Dec. 17. Trevon Beckman led the Tigers with 22 points and five rebounds in that victory, while Casen Chaney added 13 points and six boards. The Tigers have shown resilience at home this season, including a 79-77 win over then-Dordt on Dec. 6.

The game presents a contrast in recent momentum. Briar Cliff seeks to stabilize after a 1-4 stretch, while Doane looks to build on its most recent win and improve its home record. A key matchup will be on the perimeter, where Wingert’s scoring punch for the Chargers meets a Doane defense that allowed 85 points in a loss to Morningside in its last home conference game.

Following this contest, Briar Cliff hosts Midland on Jan. 7, while Doane travels to face Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) the same night.

Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. CST Saturday.