November 24, 2014
PHOTO GALLERY - Photo credits by Cody Welu and Tyler Flaagan
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) trailed as many as 12 points in the game Monday evening at the Stewart Center in an exhibition game against NCAA Division II Sioux Falls (S.D.). Trailing 43-36 at halftime, the Trojans rallied back by outscoring the Cougars 45-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game for an 81-76 exhibition victory.
Dakota State, which remains at 2-5 overall record this season, recorded their first exhibition victory since Nov. 26, 2010 when the Trojans shocked NCAA Division II Augustana (S.D.) 52-51 at the Elmen Center. Sioux Falls, a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), fell to 1-2 overall record.
Seth Cavanaugh drained a 3-pointer (Derek Meger assist) with nineteen minutes and six seconds left in the first-half, giving the Trojans their first lead of the game at 3-0.
The Cougars gained their first lead at 12-11 after a basket by Mack Johnson with 13:58 left before intermission.
Leading 18-16, USF went on a 17-7 scoring run as they earned their biggest lead of the game at 35-23 with 5:32 remaining in the first-half.
Bryant Allen hit a 3-pointer with 1:06 left before intermission as the Trojans trimmed Cougars' lead to 37-34. Sioux Falls went on to close the first-half with a 6-2 run for a seven-point halftime lead.
USF shot 62.1 percent from the field (18-of-29) compared to DSU 46.9 percent (15-of-32) in the first-half. The Trojans were 5-of-13 from the 3-point line (38.5 percent), while the Cougars were 2-for-7 from the 3-point arc (28.6 percent).
Dakota State kicked off their second-half by scoring five straight points – a 3-pointer by Cavanaugh and a basket by Adam Hofer – to reduce their deficit to two points at 43-41 with less than 18 minutes to go in the game.
Sioux Falls extended their lead to eight points at 51-43 with 15:17 left, but DSU roared back with a 12-2 spurt to regain their lead at 55-53 with 12:15 remaining in the game (after Miguel Sansasvour's field goal).
As DSU holds on to their 71-69 lead with less than a minute left to play, the Trojans went on a 6-1 scoring run to extend their lead at 77-70 with 14 seconds remaining.
USF's Johnson hit a 3-pointer to cut DSU's lead to 77-73 with less than 10 seconds left in the game.
Allen made all four free-throw attempts in the final seven seconds of the game as the Trojans secured a thrilling victory.
DSU was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final 25 seconds and made all 16 free-throws in the final twenty minutes of the game.
There were a total of seven times and six lead changes in the game.
The Trojans shot 54.2 percent from the field (13-of-24) and 3-for-7 from the 3-point arc (42.9 percent). USF was held to 33.3 percent, making 13 baskets in 39 attempts. The Cougars were 3-for-15 from the 3-point line (20 percent) and 4-for-9 from the free-throw line.
Allen had a game-high 25 points for Dakota State. He was 11-for-11 from the free-throw line. Meger added 13 points on his 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line. Sansavour scored 12 points. Hofer had 11 points (5-for-8 from the field). Cavanaugh drained three 3-pointers for nine points. Ian Barse scored seven points off the bench.
Sansasvour grabbed six rebounds and recorded a blocked shot for the Trojans. Meger added five rebounds. Taylor Zirbel earned four boards.
Hofer dished out six assists for DSU. Meger and Sansavour each had three assists. Allen stole the ball two times.
Bryan Kielpinski had a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for USF. Charles Ward added a double-double of 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Johnson scored 18 points and recorded nine rebounds.
Freddie Young had six assists for the Cougars. Johnson recorded two steals.
The Trojans shot 50 percent overall from the field (28-of-56) while the Cougars were 45.6 percent (31-of-68). DSU was 8-for-28 from the 3-point range (40 percent) compared to USF 5-of-22 (22.7 percent).
Dakota State was near perfect at the free-throw line, making 17 free-throws in 18 attempts (94.4 percent). Sioux Falls struggled at the free-throw line, going 9-for-18 (50 percent).
USF outrebounded DSU 44-26.
Dakota State continues their busy schedule this week as they play another exhibition game against NCAA Division II and NSIC foe Tuesday evening. The Trojans travel to Northern State (S.D.) in Aberdeen. Tip-off from the Wachs Arena is set for 8 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
