November 10, 2018
MADISON, S.D. – Justin Folkers hit a game-tying 3-point shot Saturday evening as Dakota State (S.D.) forced overtime at 82-82 with Northwestern (Iowa) in a non-conference men's basketball action at DSU Fieldhouse. After both teams scored seven points in the first overtime, the Trojans outscored the Red Raiders 16-9 in second overtime for a 105-98 thrilling double overtime victory.
Dakota State earned their ninth straight home opener victory since 2010. The Trojans also posted its first win of the season, improving to 1-4 overall record. Northwestern dropped their second straight game, falling to 3-2 overall record.
The Trojans and Red Raiders battled back-and-forth in the first twenty minutes of the game, with five ties and six lead changes. DSU led as many as five points at 25-20 with 5:47 left in the first-half. NWIA then went on to score 11 straight points to post the biggest lead of the first half at 31-25 with 2:45 on the clock.
Chris Borcher hit a 3-pointer by the end of the first-half, extending the Red Raiders' lead to 37-32. Northwestern shot 43.8 percent in the first-half (14-of-32 field goals), while holding Dakota State to 34.5 percent from the field (10-of-29 field goals).
Northwestern opened up the second-half with a 10-4 run to produce the game's biggest lead at 47-36 with 16:31 remaining.
Trailing 52-41, Dakota State went on a 16-6 run to trim NWIA's lead to 58-57 after a 3-pointer by Brady Van Holland with less than 12 minutes to go.
The Red Raiders would widen their lead to 74-66 with 5:45 to go before the Trojans mounted a comeback.
Brady Elder nailed down a 3-pointer (assisted by Cody Muilenburg) as part of Trojans' 11-2 run for a 77-76 lead with 3:15 left.
Trent Hilbrands made a basket with 1:16 remaining to give Red Raiders an 82-79 lead. The Trojans missed a pair of scoring chances on the ensuing possession while NWIA regained the ball possession with less than 50 seconds to go.
NWIA was unable to score on the next possession and was rebounded by Elder.
Folkers drained the game-tying 3-pointer (assisted by Elder) as DSU tied the game at 82-82 with 1.7 seconds remaining.
Following the timeout from NWIA, Van Holland stole the ball at the half court and missed the chance for a game-winning basket when time expired.
DSU outscored NWIA 50-45 in the second-half.
Folkers kicked off the overtime period with a 3-pointer, followed by a pair of free-throws by Josh McGreal to open an 87-82 lead for DSU with 3:25 on the clock.
Northwestern would answer back with a 5-0 run to knot the game for the eighth time at 87-87 with 1:21 remaining.
McGreal made a basket as the Trojans regained an 89-87 lead with less than a minute to go. Steven Kragt made both free-throw attempts as the Red Raiders tied the game at 89-89 with 44 seconds to go.
Both teams failed their scoring chances on their final possession, extending the game into second overtime.
Elder drained a 3-pointer to start the second overtime for DSU's 92-89 lead. After Hilbrands made one free throw for NWIA (DSU led 92-90), Elder added a field goal to extend Trojans lead to 94-90 with 4:01 left.
The Red Raiders answered back with a 4-0 run, tying the game for the tenth time at 94-94 with 3:01 on the clock.
Leading 98-96, the Trojans pulled way by using an 8-0 outburst for a 105-96 lead with less than 15 seconds left in the second overtime. During DSU's 8-0 run, Folkers made a field goal, followed by Elders' perfect 4-of-4 free-throws and Muilenburg's free-throw.
All five Trojan starters scored in double digits in the game, led by Folkers with a double-double. He poured in a career-high 32 points on his 11-of-19 field goal shooting, including 6-of-9 from the 3-point line. He was 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. He also tied his career-high 12 rebounds (all defensive rebounds) and recorded two blocks. Folkers was honored prior to the game as he surpassed the 1,000-point milestone at Dakota State.
McGreal and Elder each added 24 points for Dakota State (career-high for both players). McGreal was 9-of-12 from the field, 3-of-4 from the 3-point line and made all three free-throws. Elder was 8-of-13 from the field, 4-of-8 from the 3-point arc and made all four free-throws. He dished out a game-high nine assists.
Van Holland and Muilenburg each scored a season-high 10 points for DSU. Carson Rentz scored five points off the bench.
Van Holland produced five assists for Dakota State. McGreal and Muilenburg each added four assists. Van Holland stole the ball twice. Muilenburg had a game-high four blocks.
Hilbrands led the Red Raiders with 25 points (9-of-18 field goals and 6-of-8 free-throws) and produced eight assists. He posted a double-double with 12 rebounds. Jay Small added 14 points. Chris Borchers scored 13 points off the bench. Kragt had 13 points. Craig Sterk had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Dakota State shot 48.6 percent from the field (36-of-74), thanks to their blazing 57.8 percent from the field in the second-half and overtimes (26-of-45). The Trojans were 16-of-36 from the 3-point line (11-of-23 in the second-half and overtimes). Northwestern was 45.5 percent from the field (35-of-77) and 10-of-35 3-pointers.
Both teams went to the free-throw line 22 times, with Red Raiders making 18 free-throws compared to the Trojans 17 free-throws.
NWIA outrebounded DSU 46-40 in the game. The Red Raiders outscored the Trojans 16-5 in points off turnovers and 44-30 inside the paint.
Dakota State heads on the road Tuesday evening for another non-conference contest. The Trojans visit Trinity Bible (N.D.) with a tip-off at 7:30 p.m. The game will be held at Ray Ulmer Fieldhouse in Ellendale, N.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
