November 21, 2017

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu and Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) continued its hot-scoring surge Tuesday evening, recording a 93-80 upset victory over No. 18-ranked Briar Cliff (Iowa) in a non-conference men's basketball game at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans shot a blazing 50.8 percent from the field to earn their second straight win, while holding the Chargers to 36.2 percent shooting from the field.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 5-4 and handed Briar Cliff its first loss of the season.  The Chargers had won seven straight games to open up their season before Tuesday's defeat (7-1 overall record).

Despite falling behind 8-2 to open up the game, the Trojans rallied back to tie the game by scoring night straight points in a span of 1:30 to take a 14-11 lead.  Maurice Arrington drained a pair of 3-pointers while Kevin Daniels added a 3-pointer during the scoring outburst.

Knotted at 26-26, the Trojans went on a 19-7 scoring team to grab the largest lead of the first-half at 46-33 after a 3-pointer by Daniels with 1:37 left on the clock.

DSU held on to a 46-35 halftime advantage over BCU.  Dakota State shot a sizzling 57.1 percent from the field in the first-half.  The Trojans made 16-of-28 field goals, with 10 field goals coming from the 3-point line.  Briar Cliff was held to 34.4 percent from the field (11-of-32) and 3-of-14 3-pointers.

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game.  The Chargers could get no close than nine points at 54-45 with 15:39 remaining.

DSU earned its biggest lead of the game at 71-52 after a completing a three-point play by Daniels with 9:05 remaining.  Daniels also added a basket for a 73-54 DSU lead with 8:46 left.

The Trojans outscored the Chargers 47-45 in the second-half.  DSU was 45.2 percent from the field (14-of-31) while BCU was 37.8 percent (14-of-37).

Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double-digits, led by Daniels with 18 points (7-of-14 field goals, including 3-of-6 pointers).  Brendon Boomsma added 17 points on his 5-of-9 field goals, 4-of-7 from the 3-point line and 3-of-3 free-throws.  Arrington also had 17 points (6-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-8 3-pointers).

Justin Folkers tallied 12 points for the Trojans.  Bobby Farquah scored 11 points off the bench after going perfect 4-of-4 from the field and 3-of-3 at the free-throw line.  Keeon Johnson had eight points.  Josh McGreal recorded six points.

Johnson contributed five assists for DSU.  Arrington and Daniels each had three assists.  Daniels had two steals.

Arrington led DSU with eight rebounds.  Farquah added seven rebounds.  Folkers recorded two blocked shots.

Erich Erdman scored a game-high 22 points and dished out six assists for Briar Cliff.  He was 11-of-13 from the free-throw line.  Jay Wolfe added 20 points (6-of-12 field goals, 5-of-5 free-throws) and pulled down nine rebounds.  Jackson Lamb had seven rebounds and registered two steals.

Dakota State was 30-of-59 from the field compared to Briar Cliff 25-of-69.  The Trojans drained 14 3-pointers in 32 attempts (43.8 percent), while the Chargers were 9-of-34 3-pointers (26.5 percent).

BCU made 21-of-25 free-throws (84 percent).  DSU was 19-of-26 from the free-throw line (73.1 percent).

The Trojans outscored the Chargers 6-0 in fast-break opportunities. 

Briar Cliff outrebounded Dakota State 45-36 in the game.  The Chargers outscored the Trojans 17-6 in second-chance points. 

Dakota State steps aside their regular-season schedule Sunday afternoon.  The Trojans play an exhibition game versus NCAA Division I South Dakota State.  Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at Frost Arena in Brookings, S.D.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director