Midland Secures Senior Day Victory Against Briar Cliff

Warriors honor three seniors before hard-fought conference win

Feb. 9, 2026 at 3:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Midland University hosted Briar Cliff University in a Great Plains Athletic Conference game on Saturday night, honoring its three seniors before tipoff. The Warriors earned a hard-fought 77-72 victory over the Chargers.

Why it matters

This game was especially meaningful for Midland's three seniors, who were recognized before the game. The Warriors' ability to secure the win on Senior Day showcases the team's resilience and the strong bond between the players.

The details

Midland and Briar Cliff traded the lead throughout the game, with the Warriors taking a one-point advantage into halftime. The second half saw more back-and-forth action, but Midland was able to pull away late, sealing the victory at the free-throw line.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • Midland recognized Clarence Brei on his 100th birthday during halftime.

The players

Midland University

A university located in Fremont, Nebraska that competed against Briar Cliff University in this Great Plains Athletic Conference game.

Briar Cliff University

A university located in Sioux City, Iowa that played against Midland University in this conference matchup.

Nick Dolezal

A senior on the Midland University basketball team who led the Warriors with 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Jake Orr

A senior on the Midland University basketball team who scored 17 points in the victory.

Isaiah Smith

A senior on the Midland University basketball team who, while not seeing much playing time, has been a valuable teammate and leader for the Warriors.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Obviously for the seniors — myself, Jake and Isaiah — this game meant a little more than most. You saw the way the team came together. That's a testament to who we are, the brotherhood we have and the love we have for each other. This has been such an amazing journey, and we're blessed to have such a huge family and support system.”

— Nick Dolezal, Midland University Senior

“Just striving for that consistency, and that was kind of part of my message after Hastings. We just played so well at Morningside and did not play well at Hastings. It's that consistency we've been looking for. First half we did some good things, second half we did some good things, everyone contributed, and that's the consistency we go back to.”

— Midland Head Coach

What’s next

Midland (11-14, 7-10 GPAC) will travel to Yankton, South Dakota to face Mount Marty (11-11, 10-7 GPAC) in a Great Plains Athletic Conference game on Wednesday, February 11th. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m.

The takeaway

Midland's Senior Day victory showcases the team's resilience and the strong bond between the players, as the Warriors were able to secure a hard-fought win over Briar Cliff despite the back-and-forth nature of the game. The contributions of Midland's three seniors, who were honored before the game, were crucial to the team's success.