December 30, 2017
MITCHELL, S.D. – No. 20-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) used a strong first-half closing run over Dakota State (S.D.) at the Corn Palace Saturday evening, cruising to a 78-55 non-conference victory to conclude the Doug Martin Classic (part of Mike Miller Classic).
The Trojans dropped their fifth straight defeat, falling to 7-9 overall record. The Tigers lifted their overall record to 14-5.
DWU raced to a 17-2 early lead with 14 minutes, 5 seconds on the clock. DSU shook off their slow start by answering back with a 14-2 outburst in a span of 3:03, cutting the Tigers lead to 19-16 after a 3-pointer by Maurice Arrington.
Dakota Wesleyan closed the first-half with a 26-6 scoring run in the final 8:26, ballooning their lead to 47-22 by halftime. The Tigers were 13-of-30 from the field in the first-half, including 7-of-20 from the 3-point line. DWU was also 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.
DSU converted 10 field goals in 27 attempts, 2-of-10 from the 3-point line and 0-of-1 at the free-throw line in the first twenty minutes.
The Tigers maintained their double digit lead throughout the second-half. However, DSU outscored DWU 33-31 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
Arrington led Dakota State with 17 points on his 6-of-12 field goal shooting, including 4-of-7 from the 3-point arc. Justin Folkers scored nine points off the bench. Bobby Farquah tallied eight points. Brendon Boomsma had seven points.
Farquah pulled down eight rebounds for the Trojans. Arrington had five rebounds. Keeon Johnson and Folkers each recorded four rebounds. Johnson and Farquah each registered a blocked shot.
Brady Elder contributed three assists and stole the ball twice for DSU. Boomsma had two assists.
Four DWU players scored in double digits, led by Ty Hoglund with 20 points. He was 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Trae Vandeberg added 15 points and three steals. Jason Spicer had 14 points and four assists. Nygel Drury tallied 13 points.
Drury and Collin Kramer each recorded eight rebounds for the Tigers. Vandeberg had seven rebounds.
Dakota Wesleyan shot 41.4 percent overall from the field (24-of-58) compared to Dakota State 37.5 percent (21-of-56). The Tigers were 10-of-32 from the 3-point line, while the Trojans went 6-of-18 3-pointers.
DWU went to the free-throw line 26 times, making 20 free-throws (76.9 percent). DSU was 7-of-10 free-throws (70.0 percent).
The Tigers outrebounded the Trojans 41-29. DSU outscored DWU 15-11 in bench points.
Dakota State looks to start the 2018 portion of the schedule on a high note, looking to snap their losing skid. The Trojans return back to DSU Fieldhouse for their three-game home stand. DSU resumes back to North Star Athletic Association conference action Friday versus Dickinson State (N.D.). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Next Saturday, Dakota State hosts Valley City State (N.D.) in another North Star contest at 5 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
