December 29, 2018
MADISON, S.D. – Brady Elder hit a game-winning basket from the free-throw line with 3.6 seconds remaining as Dakota State (S.D.) held off St. Mary (Kan.) 95-93 in triple overtime thriller at the Corn Palace Saturday afternoon. Both teams meet for the first meeting on the first day of the Doug Martin Classic, which was part of their four-day Hoop City Classic that included high school classics.
Dakota State improved their overall record to 5-11. The Trojans are 3-0 record in overtime games this season. St. Mary, a member of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, fell to 5-8 overall record.
It was the first victory on the neutral court this season for DSU.
After falling behind 5-0 to start the game, Dakota State stormed by scoring 12 consecutive points (from four different scorers – Justin Folkers, Carson Rentz, Josh McGreal and Anthony Costello) to earn a 12-5 lead with fourteen minutes and seventeen seconds on the clock.
DSU continued its scoring run for their first double-digit lead of the game. Brady Van Holland drained a 3-pointer to widen the Trojans' lead to 19-7 with 11:31 remaining before intermission.
A basket by Costello (assisted by Rentz) gave Dakota State its biggest lead of the game at 31-14 with less than five minutes on the clock in the first-half. The Spires then went on an 8-0 scoring tear to cut Trojans' lead to 31-22 with 2:01 left.
McGreal ended DSU's scoring drought with a 3-pointer (assisted by Elder) for a 34-22 lead. Both teams were unable to score in the final 1:30 of the first-half as the Trojans held a twelve-point lead.
Dakota State shot 48.1 percent from the field (13-of-27) and 5-of-13 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes of the game. St. Mary was held to 29 percent shooting from the field (9-of-31), with 4-of-15 field goals coming from the 3-point arc.
USM kicked off the second-half with a 6-0 scoring run to cut DSU's lead to 34-28 with 18:44 remaining. The Trojans then answered back with a 7-2 run to regain their double-digit lead at 41-30 after a pair of free-throws by Van Holland.
St. Mary came back within two points at 41-39 after a 9-0 outburst with 14:41 left.
Leading 47-46, Van Holland hit back-to-back 3-pointers to extend DSU's lead to 53-46 with 10:32 on the clock.
The Spires rallied back to knot the game at 57-57 after a basket by Donovan Sinegal, but Rentz answered with a 3-pointer to give DSU a 60-57 lead with less than five minutes left in the game.
Edvonte Copeland hit a 3-pointer as St. Mary regained their lead since the first half, earning a 64-62 with 1:46 remaining.
Van Holland nailed down a pair of free-throws as the Trojans tied the game at 64-64 with 1:22 left.
Both teams were unable to convert their scoring chances in the final minute of the game, extending the game into extra period.
St. Mary outscored Dakota State 42-30 in the second-half. The Spires shot 15-of-26 from the field (57.7 percent) and held the Trojans to 9-of-23 field goals (39.1 percent).
USM began the first overtime period with a 7-3 run to earn a 71-67 lead with less than three minutes to go. The Trojans answered back by scoring five straight points, thanks to a 3-pointer by Van Holland and a pair of free-throws by Rentz for DSU's 72-71 lead with 1:42 left.
After the Spires regained the lead at 73-72 after a pair of free-throws by Tevin Killeen, the Trojans scored the next four points from a basket by Folkers and a pair of free-throws by Van Holland for a 76-73 lead with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Copeland made a 3-pointer as the Spires recorded the sixth tie of the game at 76-76 with 19 seconds to go. Folkers' shot could not go in as the game was extended into second overtime. Both teams scored 12 points in the first overtime period.
DSU and USM went through three ties and three lead changes in the second overtime, with the lead no bigger than three points by the Trojans. Trailing 84-82, Folkers was fouled by making the basket with less than 45 seconds to go for the ninth tie of the game at 84-84. He was unable to complete the 3-point play as the game was stayed tied.
The Spires committed a turnover with less than 20 seconds to go in second overtime. Van Holland missed a shot on the last possession, as the game was extended into third overtime. DSU and SMU scored eight points in the second overtime period.
Rentz opened up with back-to-back 3-pointers in the third overtime as part of DSU's 6-0 scoring surge for a 90-84 lead with 3:41 remaining, forcing the Spires to burn a timeout.
Coming out from the timeout, St. Mary scored the next six points to tie the game for the 10th time at 90-90 with 1:27 left.
The Trojans ended the scoreless drought after a basket by Elder for a 92-90 lead with 1:06 left. Folkers hit 1-of-2 free-throw to extend DSU's lead to 93-90 with less than 40 seconds remaining.
Dan Hailey made a 3-point shot to knot the game at 93-93, the 11th tie of the game with 30 seconds to go in third overtime.
Elder made a jumper shot from the free-throw line to give DSU a 95-93 lead with 3.6 seconds left. The Spiers could not convert their scoring chance on the final possession of the game, securing the victory for DSU.
Dakota State outscored St. Mary 11-9 in the third overtime period. The Trojans were 4-of-6 from the field and held the Spires to 3-of-11 field goal shooting in the final five minutes of the game.
Five starters scored in double-digit for DSU, led by Van Holland with a game-high 24 points. He was perfect from the free-throw line, making all six free-throws. Folkers posted a double-double of 20 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Elder scored 18 points on his 6-of-8 field goals and 4-of-5 free-throws.
Trojan Rentz drained five 3-pointers (season-high) and converted two free-throws for 17 points. He grabbed six rebounds and stole the ball three times. McGreal added 10 points. Costello scored six points off the bench.
Elder and Cody Muilenburg (season-high) each contributed six assists for Dakota State. Muilenburg registered two blocks.
Raylon Howard led the Spires with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Copeland scored 16 points off the bench. Cameron Southern had 13 points. Teyvon Lundy dished out four assists. Howard and Hailey each had three steals.
DSU shot 46.4 percent overall from the field (32-of-69) compared to USM 43 percent (34-of-79). The Trojans drained 14 3-pointers in 31 tries (45.2 percent), while the Spires were 12-of-34 3-pointers (35.3 percent).
Dakota State went to the free-throw line 25 times, converting 17 free-throws (68 percent). St. Mary was 13-of-16 free-throws (81.3 percent).
USM outrebounded DSU 43-34 in the game.
Dakota State closes out their non-conference schedule Sunday afternoon on the second day of the Doug Martin Classic. The Trojans take on Peru State (Neb.), a member of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference of NAIA Division I. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. at the Corn Palace in Mitchell.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
