November 28, 2014
FREMONT, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) could not hold on to their lead Friday evening in the semifinals of the Draemel Classic, hosted by Midland (Neb.) at Event Center. The Trojans fell short in a nail-biter to Mount Mercy (Iowa) by the score of 73-72.
Dakota State fell to 2-6 overall record. Mount Mercy raised overall record to 7-2.
There were two ties and four lead changes in the first five minutes and 26 seconds of the game.
Leading 19-18, the Trojans outscored the Mustangs 12-3 to gain the biggest lead of the game at 31-21 with 8:40 left in the first-half.
Mount Mercy trimmed DSU's lead to 43-42 with 1:22 remaining before intermission. Derek Meger nailed down a pair of free-throws to put Trojans up 45-42 by halftime.
Dakota State shot 53.3 percent from the field (16-of-30) while Mount Mercy was 44.4 percent (16-of-36). The Trojans were 6-of-14 from the 3-point line (42.9 percent) compared to the Mustangs' 4-of-12 (33.3 percent).
DSU kicked off the second-half by scoring five straight points to extend their lead to 50-42 after a 3-pointer by Seth Cavanaugh and a pair of free-throws by Miguel Sansavour.
The Mustangs answered back with a 9-1 spurt to tie the game at 51-51 with 15:10 left to play.
DSU would score seven straight points to grab a 58-51 lead with 13:16 remaining.
Mount Mercy regained their lead at 61-60 with 11:38 left after a 10-2 run.
After a pair of free-throws by Bryant Allen to put the Trojans ahead 65-64, the Mustangs used a 7-0 scoring run to take a 71-65 lead with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
Trailing 71-67 with 21 seconds left to play, Adam Hofer nailed down two free-throws to reduce MMC's lead to 71-69.
James Boonstoppel made both free-throws with less than 10 seconds left in the game as Mount Mercy's lead grew to 73-69.
Hofer drained a 3-pointer with less than a second remaining to cut DSU's deficit to 73-72, but the Mustangs secured the victory after securing the possession from the out-of-bound play.
Mount Mercy outscored Dakota State 31-27 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
Both teams struggled from the field in the second-half with the Trojans shooting at 36.4 percent (8-of-22) and the Mustangs at 35.5 percent (11-of-31).
Four Dakota State players scored in double-digits. Sansavour earned a double-double of 20 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. He was 7-for-11 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line. Allen added 17 points with five 3-pointers and 2-foor-2 from the free-throw line. Meger and Hofer each added 12 points. Cavanaugh scored six points.
Ian Barse grabbed seven rebounds for the Trojans. Meger, Allen and Hofer each had four rebounds.
Cavanaugh, Allen and Taylor Zirbel each dished out three assists for Dakota State. Meger and Hofer each had two assists.
Sansavour recorded four blocked shots in the game.
Meger, Sansavour, Allen and Hofer each had a steal.
Alex Houston led the Mustangs with 16 points on his 7-of-12 shooting from the field and made both free-throws. Dondre Osborne and Ben Struss each added 11 points. Boonstoppel scored 10 points off the bench.
Struss earned six boards for Mount Mercy. Kyle Lamaak had five rebounds.
Ian Matos recorded four assists for the Mustangs. Osborne stole the ball five times. Da'Quan Moore had four steals.
Dakota State shot 46.2 percent overall from the field (24-of-52) compared to Mount Mercy 40.3 percent (27-of-67). The Trojans drained 10 3-pointers in 27 attempts (37 percent), while the Mustangs were 7-of-24 (29.2 percent).
The Trojans were 14-of-17 from the free-throw line (82.4 percent). The Mustangs made 12 free-throws in 20 attempts (60 percent).
DSU won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Mustangs 34-29.
The Trojans committed 21 turnovers in the game compared to Mount Mercy 9 turnovers.
Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column Saturday afternoon at the Event Center. The Trojans will play the Friday's loser between Benedictine-Springfield (Ill.) – coached by former DSU men's basketball athlete and assistant coach Ian McKeithen – or No. 2 Midland (Neb.). Tip-off for the third-place game is set for 2 p.m. in Fremont, Neb.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
