January 2, 2016

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – All five Dakota State men's basketball starters scored in double digits Saturday afternoon at Hennessey Recreation Center, but the Trojans could not hold on to their eight-point halftime lead in 81-77 non-conference road loss to Mount Mercy (Iowa).  The Mustangs completed a season series sweep over DSU, which MMU defeated the Trojans 90-82 in the first meeting at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 19.

Dakota State fell to 6-9 overall record.  Mount Mercy, receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 11-6 overall record.

Leading 33-29 with three minutes and forty-two seconds left in the first-half, the Trojans stormed with a 6-0 run for the biggest lead of the game at 39-29 with less than two minutes remaining before halftime.

After the Mustangs trimmed DSU's lead down to five points, Adam Hofer drained a three-pointer with 39 seconds left as the Trojans held on to a 42-34 halftime lead.

Dakota State shot 45.7 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (16-of-35), including 4-of-11 from the 3-point line.  Mount Mercy was 40.6 percent from the field (13-of-32) and 3-of-13 from the 3-point range.

Derek Meger added a field goal to give another biggest lead of the game at 44-34 with 19:18 remaining.

With DSU up at 57-50, the Mustangs hit a pair of 3-pointers by Mychael Brawner-Henley and Blake Murdock to cut Trojans' lead to 57-56 with less than 13 minutes to go.

The Mustangs regained their lead at 62-61 with 9:57 on the clock in the second-half.  Both teams traded or tied the game for the next seven-plus minutes before MMU made a late surge to pull out the victory.

Trailing 74-73, Brendon Broomsma completed a three-point play to put the Trojans up at 76-74 with 4:15 remaining.  MMU's Tre Wagner hit a basket with 3:39 left to reduce DSU's lead to 76-74.

Ian Barse hit one of two free-throw attempts for DSU's 77-74 lead with 3:20 left.  Mount Mercy held the Trojans scoreless in the final 3:20 of the game, closing the game with a 7-0 run.  DSU missed its last seven shots of the game.

Mount Mercy outscored Dakota State 47-35 in the second-half.  The Mustangs shot 63 percent from the field in the last twenty minutes (17-of-27) and 5-of-12 from the 3-point line.  DSU was 41.2 percent in the second period (14-of-34) and 2-of-9 3-pointers.

There were a total of eight ties and 12 lead changes in the game, including five ties and 10 lead changes in the second-half.

Barse led the Trojans with 17 points.  Kyle Kilgore posted a double-double of 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds (7 offensive).  Meger had 14 points on his 7-of-8 field goal shooting.  Boomsma scored 11 points.  Hofer tallied 10 points.

Barse had six rebounds for DSU.  Taylor Zirbel added five rebounds. 

Hofer and Nathaniel Rauen each dished out four assists for Dakota State.  Hofer and Barse each had a steal.

Brawner-Henley poured in 21 points and earned seven boards for the Mustangs.  He was 9-of-14 from the field and 3-of-6 from the 3-point arc.  Derik Gogg added 14 points on his 7-of-9 field goals.  Ben Struss and Wagner each had nine points.

Wagner produced five assists for MMU.  JaCobe Julien and Jake Anderson each had two steals.

Mount Mercy shot 50.8 percent overall from the field (30-of-59) compared to Dakota State 43.5 percent (30-of-69).  The Mustangs were 8-of-25 from the 3-point line (32 percent), while the Trojans were 6-of-20 from the 3-point arc (30 percent).

MMU was 13-of-21 free-throws (61.9 percent).  DSU converted 11 of 15 free-throws (73.3 percent).

The Mustangs had a slim rebounding edge over Dakota State, 38-37.

Dakota State looks to halt their four-game losing skid as they return home Wednesday evening, kicking off their busy North Star Athletic Association conference schedule.  The Trojans host Waldorf (Iowa) in the NSAA match-up at DSU Fieldhouse, tipping off at 7:30 p.m. in Madison, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director