January 13, 2018
FOREST CITY, Iowa – Waldorf (Iowa) limited Dakota State (S.D.) to 18.5 percent field goal shooting in the first-half Saturday evening, fueling to an 83-63 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference victory. The Trojans suffered their second straight defeat.
Dakota State, who is searching for their first road victory this season, fell to 9-12 overall record and 3-5 NSAA conference record. Waldorf moved to .500 with 10-10 overall record and 5-3 NSAA record.
The Trojans used a fast start, exploding to a 10-2 lead – with eight points coming from Keeon Johnson – with 14 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock in the first-half. The Warriors then used a 14-0 outburst to earn a 16-10 lead with less than 10 minutes to go.
DSU went on a 5-0 run to cut WU's lead to 16-15, but Waldorf scored nine straight points to expand their lead to 25-15 with 4:10 to go in the first-half. The Trojans trimmed the Warriors lead to 25-22 after a 3-point play by Bobby Farquah with 1:50 remaining before intermission.
Waldorf closed the first-half with an 8-2 run to earn a 33-24 halftime lead. The Warriors shot 39.4 percent from the field (13-of-33) in the first-half. The Trojans made 5 field goals in 27 attempts, but made 12-of-14 free-throws in the first twenty minutes of the game.
Dakota State could get no closer than seven points at 33-26 after a basket by Justin Folkers with 19:39 left and 36-29 after a 3-pointer by Johnson with 17:39 remaining.
The Warriors maintained control for the rest of the second-half, outscoring the Trojans 50-39. DSU shot a blazing 57.1 percent from the field (12-of-21) in the final twenty minutes of the game and 12-of-15 from the free-throw line. WU was 47.2 percent from the field (17-of-36) and 11-of-12 free-throws.
Johnson led Dakota State with 17 points on his 6-of-10 field goal shooting, 3-of-5 from the 3-point line and made both free-throws. Kevin Daniels added 10 points. Dalyn Bekkdahl had seven points off the bench. Folkers and Maurice Arrington each had six points.
Farquah grabbed seven rebounds for the Trojans. Daniels added six rebounds. Daniels and Brendon Boomsma each dished out two assists. Johnson, Brady Elder and Boomsma each had a steal.
Kaden Verdin poured in 20 points for Waldorf. He was 5-of-10 from the field and went perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Falmata Tula added 15 points. Brady Kuchinka had 12 points.
Tula led the Warriors with six rebounds. Kuchinka and Brian Smith each produced four assists. Verdin stole the ball three times.
Waldorf shot 43.5 percent overall from the field (30-of-69) compared to Dakota State 35.4 percent (17-of-48). The Warriors were 8-of-24 3-pointers, while the Trojans made five 3-pointers in 19 attempts (26.3 percent).
DSU went to the free-throw line 29 times, making 24 free-throws (82.8 percent). WU converted 15-of-19 free-throws (78.9 percent).
The Warriors outrebounded the Trojans 40-33 in the game. WU outscored DSU 28-12 inside the paint.
Dakota State continues their six-game North Star conference road trip with a pair of games next weekend. The Trojans visit Presentation (S.D.) to kick off the second-half portion of the North Star conference schedule on Friday. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. at Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D.
DSU travels to Jamestown (N.D.) next Saturday for another NSAA conference action at 5 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
