December 30, 2018
Photos credit by Karen Giles
MITCHELL, S.D. – Peru State (Neb.), a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) in the NAIA Division I, led as many as 21 points in the second-half Sunday afternoon on the second day of the Doug Martin Classic at the Corn Palace. Dakota State's (S.D.) comeback bid fell short as the Bobcats held on to an 88-81 victory.
Dakota State wrapped up their non-conference schedule with an overall record of 5-12. Peru State raised their overall record to 10-3.
Trailing 14-6 early in the game, the Trojans went on an 8-0 scoring run to tie the game at 14-14 after a basket by Anthony Costello with thirteen minutes and fifty-five seconds on the clock.
After the Bobcats went on a 5-0 run to take a 19-14 lead, Brady Van Holland and Carson Rentz each hit a 3-pointer as DSU regained their lead at 20-19 with 10:16 left in the first-half. PSC answered back with an 8-0 run to earn a 27-20 lead with 7:31 on the clock.
Holding a three-point lead at 32-29, the Bobcats went on a 13-2 scoring run to widen their lead to 45-31 with 1:19 left before intermission.
Costello nailed down a pair of free-throws as DSU trimmed PSC's lead to 45-33 by halftime.
Peru State shot 57.6 percent from the field (19-of-33) and 5-of-13 from the 3-point arc (38.5 percent) in the first-half. Dakota State was held to 37.9 field goal percent (11-of-29), but went 7-of-15 from the 3-point line (46.7 percent).
PSC went on a 19-10 run to record the biggest lead of the game at 64-43 with 13:37 left in the game.
Van Holland and Carson Rentz each drained a pair of 3-pointers, sparking the Trojans' 14-2 outburst The Trojans answered back with a 14-2 outburst to cut their deficit into single digit at 66-57 with less than eleven minutes remaining.
Down 77-64, DSU went 3-of-3 from the field as part of the 8-0 scoring run to reduce their deficit to 77-72 with 4:49 left. The Bobcats would regain their double-digit lead after a 5-0 run to balloon their lead to 82-72 with 3:44 to go.
Dakota State could get no closer than five points after a basket by Justin Folkers with 35 seconds left (PSC led 86-81).
The Trojans outscored the Bobcats 48-43 in the last twenty minutes of the game. DSU shot 54.5 percent from the field (18-of-33) in the second-half compared to PSC 53.8 percent (14-of-26). Dakota State was 9-of-16 3-pointers, while Peru State was 3-of-10 3-pointers.
PSC converted 12-of-15 free-throws in the second-half (DSU was 3-of-4 free-throws).
Four Trojan starters scored in double digits. Folkers (7-of-12 field goals) and Van Holland each scored 19 points. Rentz tied his season-high 18 points after draining six 3-pointers in the game. Costello added 10 points.
DSU's Brady Elder tallied nine points and dished out a game-high six assists. Van Holland stole the ball four times. Cody Muilenburg registered three blocked shots and contributed five assists.
Folkers grabbed six rebounds for Dakota State. Van Holland and Rentz each added four rebounds.
Two Peru State players produced double-double in the game. Brandon Jones tallied 22 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Lyle Hexom added 20 points and 14 rebounds. Nicholas Wurm and KeShawn Wilson each had 13 points.
Jones recorded three assists and three steals for the Bobcats. Hexom and Isaac Simpson each had two blocks.
Peru State shot 55.9 percent overall from the field (33-of-59) compared to Dakota State 46.8 percent (29-of-62). The Trojans drained 16 3-pointers in 31 attempts (51.6 percent) while the Bobcats made eight 3-pointers in 23 attempts (34.8 percent).
PSC was 14-of-17 free-throws (82.4 percent). DSU made 7-of-10 free-throws (70 percent).
The Bobcats won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Trojans 39-21.
Dakota State heads into their full slate of North Star Athletic Association conference play next weekend. The Trojans begin their New Year at DSU Fieldhouse, hosting Presentation (S.D.) Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Dickinson State (N.D.) on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
