October 26, 2018
CRETE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) could not hold on to their 11-point first-half lead Friday evening at Haddix Center as Doane (Neb.) used a strong second-half surge for the victory. The Tigers outscored the Trojans 53-36 in the final twenty minutes of the game for a 91-70 victory in both teams' season opener.
Both DSU and DU traded leads and recorded three ties through the first three-and-half minutes of the game. Trailing 9-8, Josh McGreal scored five straight points to give DSU a 13-9 lead with 15:30 on the clock
DSU sparked their offensive outburst by using a 13-2 scoring run to earn the first double-digit lead of the game at 22-11 with 12:16 after a basket by Keeon Johnson.
Doane, receiving votes in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, held Dakota State to four points for over seven minutes, exploding with a 19-4 run for a 30-26 lead with 5:04 to go before halftime.
The Tigers held a 38-34 lead by intermission. DU shot 50 percent from the field (14-of-28), including 5-of-12 from the 3-point line. DSU was 44.8 percent from the field (13-of-29) and 2-of-10 from the 3-point arc.
A 3-pointer by DSU's Johnson cut DU's lead to 42-41 with 17:48 remaining, where the Trojans could get no closer. Leading 49-44, Doane scored 10 straight points for a 62-47 lead with 12:36 left and never looked back.
The Tigers outscored the Trojans 53-36 in the second-half. Doane only missed nine shots in the final twenty minutes of the game (17-of-28 – 60.7 percent) compared to Dakota State 35.7 field goal shooting (10-of-28).
Justin Folkers led DSU with a double-double of 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Dakota State. He was 8-of-15 from the field and 7-of-11 from the free-throw line. McGreal added 18 points and made all eight free-throws. Johnson had 17 points. Brady Van Holland scored eight points.
Brady Elder had a game-high six assists for the Trojans. Johnson stole the ball three times.
All five starters scored in double-digits for the Tigers, led by Trace Tupper with 20 points (6-of-7 field goals and 8-of-13 free-throws). Nick Kornieck added 15 points and eight rebounds. Anthony Laravie and Koh Flippin each had 14 points. Zach Witters had 11 points.
DU's five starters combined for 16 assists in the game led by Kornieck with five assists and Tupper with four assists. Tupper and Witters each recorded three steals. Tupper had three blocked shots.
Doane shot 55.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-56) compared to Dakota State 40.4 percent (23-of-57). The Tigers drained 11 3-pointers in 22 tries, while the Trojans were 5-of-22 3-poiners (22.7 percent).
DU was 18-of-27 from the free-throw line (66.7 percent). DSU converted 19 free-throws in 25 attempts (76 percent).
The Trojans outrebounded the Tigers 40-30, including 11-3 on offensive boards.
Dakota State stays on the road Saturday, visiting Nebraska Christian in both teams' first-ever meeting. Tip-off from D.J. Sokol Arena is set for 4 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
