October 29, 2017

PHOTO GALLERY - Photo credits by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) never trailed in the game Sunday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse, holding on to a 68-62 men's basketball victory over Doane (Neb.) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Trojans finished their own home tournament with a 2-0 record.

Doane, who was coached by former Trojan Basketball player and assistant coach under head coach Gary Garner, fell to 1-1 overall record.  Presentation (S.D.) defeated Oak Hills 99-75 in the earlier game of the tournament Sunday afternoon.

It was the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Trojans opened up their season with a 2-0 record.

Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes of the game.  The Trojans grabbed their first lead of the game at 3-0 after a 3-pointer by Kevin Daniels with 18 minutes, 13 seconds on the clock.  The Tigers scored their first point of the game after a free-throw by Trace Tupper with less than 18 minutes in the first-half.

There were only two ties in the first-half at 3-3 (16:40 on the clock) and 9-9 (12:04 remaining in the first-half). 

Hanging on to a 12-11 lead, DSU went on a 6-1 scoring run to earn the biggest lead of the first-half at 18-12 after a basket by Bobby Farquah with 6:50 on the clock.

Doane trimmed Dakota State's lead down to one point on three different occasions, 22-21 (3:40 on the clock), 24-23 (1:58) and 27-26 (less than a minute to go).

Dakota State extended their lead to 29-26 after a field goal by Farquah with less than 40 seconds to go in the first-half.  Both teams were unable to score on their final possession of the first-half, hanging on to a three-point halftime lead for the Trojans.

DSU shot 33.3 percent from the field (10-of-30) while holding DU to 28 percent shooting (7-of-25) in the first twenty minutes of game.

After the Tigers kicked off the second-half with a field goal by Zach Witters (29-28 DSU lead), the Trojans scored seven straight points to widen their lead to 36-28 with 15:33 left.  Maurice Arrington and Justin Folkers hit a pair of 3-pointers, followed by Arrington's free-throw during the Trojans' 7-0 run.

Dakota State maintained their lead between three- and eight-point for a span of nearly 10 minutes.  With DSU leading 45-38, the Tigers mounted a 12-5 scoring run to register the third tie of the game at 50-50 with less than six minutes remaining.

The Trojans then went on a 6-0 spurt to regain their lead back to six points at 56-50 with 4:09 left, thanks to a pair of baskets by Keeon Johnson and Folkers.

Doane could get no closer than two points on two different occasions (59-57 with 2:48 left and 62-60 with 1:51 remaining), but the Trojans were able to close out the game.

Josh McGreal nailed down a pair of free-throws with 1:51 left to put DSU up 64-60.  Brendon Boomsma added two free-throws to extend DSU's lead to 66-60 with 20 seconds left.   Doane added a basket by Nick Kornieck to trim DSU's lead to 66-62 with less than 15 seconds to go.

Dakota State secured the game after a pair of free-throws by Daniels.

Doane shot 45.2 percent in the second-half (14-of-31) while Dakota State was 44 percent (11-of-25).

Daniels led the Trojans with 14 points.  He was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.  Johnson, Folkers and Farquah each tallied 11 points.  Arrington scored eight points. 

Boomsma dished out a game-high six assists for DSU.  Daniels added five assists.  Johnson had four assists.  Arrington, Boomsma and Daniels each stole the ball two times.

Arrington and Boomsma each pulled down six rebounds for Dakota State.  Folkers and Farquah each added five rebounds.  Folkers, Arrington and Daniels each recorded a blocked shot.

A pair of Doane players posted double-double in the game, led by Tupper with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  Quin Conner added 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.  Anthony Laravie scored 10 points off the bench.  Jaxon Harre had nine points.

Nick Kornieck and Laravie each produced three assists.  Kornieck stole the ball three times.  Tupper had three blocked shots.

Dakota State shot 38.2 percent overall from the field, converting 21 baskets in 55 attempts.  Doane was 21-of-56 from the field (37.5 percent).  The Trojans drained six 3-pointesr in 15 tries (40 percent) compared to the Tigers 3-of-17 3-pointers (17.6 percent).

DSU was 20-of-27 from the free-throw line (74.1 percent) while DU was 17-of-22 free-throws (77.3 percent).

The Tigers won the rebounding battle 41-34.  DU outscored DSU 32-20 inside the paint.  Both teams had 22 points from the bench.

Dakota State heads on the road Wednesday evening to face another GPAC opponent.  The Trojans visit Dordt (Iowa) in a non-conference action.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at DeWitt Gymnasium on the campus of Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

Doane (Neb.) Head Coach and former Trojan Men's Basketball Player/Assistant Coach Ian McKeithen presented the game ball to DSU Head Coach Gary Garner, sending him well-wishes for his speedy recovery.