November 25, 2018
FREMONT, Neb. – Nationally-ranked Morningside (Iowa) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference outscored Dakota State (S.D.) 68-16 inside the paint, pulling away past Dakota State (S.D.) 104-75 on the second day of the Draemel Classic hosted by Midland (Neb.) at Events Center. The Mustangs outscored the Trojans 54-31 in the final twenty minutes after holding a six-point halftime lead.
Dakota State dropped their third straight game, falling to 2-7 overall record. Morningside, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Division II Preseason Coaches' Top 25 national poll and advanced to national quarterfinals last season, remained undefeated with a 7-0 record.
Both teams will meet for the second meeting of the season on Dec. 15 at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison, S.D.
Dakota State and Morningside went through two ties and four lead changes in the first seven-plus minutes in a high-scoring affair. A basket by DSU's Brady Elder gave them a 21-20 lead with 12:11 on the clock in the first-half.
MC then went on a 13-5 scoring run to open up a 33-26 lead with 8:29 left before intermission.
Trailing 50-42, Justin Folkers hit a basket as the Trojans reduced their deficit to 50-44 with 1:28 remaining in the first. The Mustangs did not score in the final 2:18 of the first-half and held on to a six-point halftime lead (50-44).
Dakota State shot an impressive 56.3 percent from the field in the first-half, converting 18 baskets in 32 attempts. The Trojans were also 6-of-11 from the 3-point line. Morningside was 55.3 percent from the field, making 21 baskets in 38 attempts. The Mustangs were 4-of-12 from the 3-point arc.
Folkers kicked off the second-half with a 3-pointer as DSU trimmed MC's lead down to three points at 50-47 with 19:48 remaining. Then, the Mustangs used a 26-6 outburst to race to a 76-53 lead with less than 12 minutes left in the game.
The Trojans could get no closer than 18 points at 76-58 with 11:14 remaining. Morningside secured the victory after maintaining their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading as many as 34 points.
MC shot a sizzling 60 percent from the field (24-of-40) in the final twenty minutes of the game. The Trojans were held to 34.4 percent from the field (11-of-32) in the second-half.
Four DSU players scored in double-digits, led by Josh McGreal with 18 points. He was 7-of-13 from the field and made three triples. Brady Van Holland added 14 points. Folkers had 13 points. Elder scored 12 points. Anthony Costello tallied nine points off the bench.
McGreal grabbed seven rebounds for the Trojans. Van Holland added six rebounds and produced three assists. Elder dished out four assists. Van Holland, Costello and Cody Muilenburg each registered a block.
MC's Zach Imig went 10-of-13 from the field for a game-high 21 points and produced seven assists. He stole the ball three times. Brody Egger added 19 points (8-of-13 field goals). Trey Brown scored 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds off the bench. Matt Hahn had 14 points. Tyler Borcher tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.
Morningside shot a blazing 57.7 percent overall from the field (45-of-78) compared to Dakota State 45.3 field goal percentage (29-of-64). The Trojans drained 10 3-pointers in 23 tries (43.5 percent), while the Mustangs were 9-of-28 from the 3-point arc (32.1 percent).
Both teams struggled at the free-throw line, with DSU making 7-of-12 free-throws (58.3 percent). MC was 5-of-10 free-throws (50 percent).
The Mustangs outrebounded the Trojans 42-26 in the game. MC outscored DSU 18-4 in second-chance points.
Dakota State remains away from the DSU Fieldhouse on Saturday, opening up their 14-game North Star conference schedule. The Trojans visit Bellevue (Neb.) with a 5 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Center.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
