Midland Warriors Fall Short in Heartbreaker Loss to Doane Tigers

Midland University's men's basketball season ends with a close 79-77 defeat against conference rival Doane University.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In the final regular-season game of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, Midland University's men's basketball team traveled to Crete, Nebraska to face off against Doane University. The Warriors fought hard throughout the back-and-forth contest, but ultimately fell short in the closing seconds, losing 79-77 to the Tigers.

Why it matters

This loss marks the end of the season for the Midland Warriors, who finished the year with an 11-17 overall record and a 7-13 mark in GPAC play. The game highlighted the competitive nature of the conference and the narrow margins that can decide the outcome of close matchups.

The details

Midland got off to a slow start, trailing 9-0 early before battling back to take a 34-26 lead at halftime. The second half saw the teams trade blows, with Doane making a late surge to take a 77-74 advantage. The Warriors fought to tie it at 77-77, but Doane hit two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.

  • Midland trailed 9-0 early in the first half.
  • Midland led 34-26 at halftime.
  • Doane took a 77-74 lead late in the second half.
  • The game ended with a final score of 79-77 in favor of Doane.

The players

Jake Orr

Led the Warriors with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 steals.

Dylan Simons

Scored 18 points for Midland.

Butch Lordeus

Contributed 11 points for the Warriors.

Alec Noonan

Added 10 points for Midland.

Tyler Erwin

Midland's head coach, who expressed pride in his team's effort and the contributions of the program's three seniors.

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What they’re saying

“Really proud of our effort tonight on the road. I thought we played with a sense of urgency and a ton of energy in a hard-fought game all the way to the final possession.”

— Tyler Erwin, Head Coach (thebestmix1055.com)

“I wish we could have limited their scoring in the second half; giving up 53 points is tough to overcome.”

— Tyler Erwin, Head Coach (thebestmix1055.com)

“I'm especially proud of our three seniors — Isaiah, Nick and Jake. They have been tremendous players for our program, outstanding members of our community, and excellent students at our university. I can't thank them enough for everything they've done to help our program grow. Our program is in a better place because of their commitment over the years. They will be missed.”

— Tyler Erwin, Head Coach (thebestmix1055.com)

The takeaway

This heartbreaking loss for the Midland Warriors highlights the competitive nature of the Great Plains Athletic Conference and the fine margins that can decide the outcome of close games. Despite the defeat, the team and its head coach expressed pride in the players' effort and the contributions of the program's three departing seniors, suggesting a bright future ahead for Midland basketball.