February 3, 2018
Photos credits by Donald Weidler
MADISON, S.D. – Down 51-46 in the second-half in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Men's Basketball conference action Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) closed the game with a 23-7 run – including a 15-2 outburst – for a 69-58 victory. It was the fourth straight home victory for the Trojans, which concluded their home regular-season schedule with an 11-5 record (including the forfeit victory versus Grace, Neb. on Feb. 10).
Dakota State improved their overall record to 12-15. DSU is 6-8 record in the North Star conference games, currently sixth in the North Star conference standings. The Trojans also claimed their ninth straight year with a home court winning record. Viterbo fell to 14-11 overall record and 6-7 NSAA record (fifth-place in the conference standings with a half-game lead over DSU).
Neither teams were able to establish control in the first 11 minutes of the game where there were five ties and three lead changes, with no lead bigger than four points (DSU at 7-3 with 18:08 on the clock in the first-half).
Knotted at 16-16, the V-Hawks used a 12-2 run to earn their first double-digit lead of the game at 28-18 with 2:41 left.
Trailing 30-20, Brendon Boomsma hit a 3-pointer as the Trojans cut VU's lead to 30-23 with 45 seconds to go before intermission.
Viterbo shot 42.9 percent from the field in the first-half (12-of-28 field goals) and limited Dakota State to 33.3 percent from the field (10-of-30 field goals).
The Trojans continued its scoring run in the second-half, starting with a 6-0 run (3 points from Justin Folkers and a 3-pointer by Kevin Daniels). DSU held VU scoreless in the first five minutes of the second-half, helping the Trojans reduce V-Hawks lead down to 30-29.
Viterbo broke their scoring drought by scoring eight straight points – a basket by Cody Hoeth, a 3-pointer by Jason Tichy and 3-pointer by Jared Fleischmann – to widen their lead to 38-29 with 13:48 to go.
The Trojans would answer back by trimming V-Hawks' lead to one point on three different occasions – 43-42 after a 3-point play by Maurice Arrington with 10:59 left, 45-44 after a basket by Keeon Johnson with 10:19 remaining and 47-46 after a field goal by Arrington with 9:35 left.
After Viterbo put four more points to extend their lead to 51-46 with 7:22 on the clock, the Trojans stormed back to secure the victory. DSU earned a 61-53 lead after a using a 15-2 surge (including scoring 12 consecutive points holding the V-Hawks scoreless for more than five-and-half minutes). The Trojans went 6-of-9 from the field during the scoring run, while the V-Hawks went 1-of-7 from the field.
VU broke their scoreless drought after a free-throw by Fleischmann, cutting DSU's lead to 61-54 with less than two minutes to go in the game.
Dakota State outscored Viterbo 46-28 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to Trojans' blazing 56.7 percent from the field (17-of-30). The V-Hawks were held to 36.7 percent from the field in the second-half (11-of-30 field goals).
Daniels paced the Trojans with 19 points. He was 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point arc and made both free-throws. Boomsma added 14 points (5-of-10 field goals, with 4-of-8 coming from the 3-point line). Arrington had 12 points. Folkers scored 11 points off the bench. Bobby Farquah had eight points.
Arrington led DSU with seven rebounds. Daniels added six rebounds. Farquah registered two blocks.
Farquah, Boomsma, Brady Elder and Keeon Johnson each recorded two assists for Dakota State. Johnson stole the ball three times. Farquah and Daniels each had two steals.
Tichy and Fleischmann each scored 13 points for the V-Hawks. Cody Hoeth added eight points off the bench. Ethan Haberman had seven points.
Fleischmann grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists for VU. Cade Anderson, Haberman and Fleischmann each had a steal.
Dakota State shot 45 percent overall in the game (27-of-60) compared to Viterbo 39.7 percent (23-of-58). The Trojans were 8-of-22 from the 3-point line, while the V-Hawks were 7-of-17 3-pointers. DSU was 7-of-10 free-throws. VU converted 5-of-7 free-throws.
The Trojans outrebounded the V-Hawks 38-34 in the game. DSU outscored VU 10-6 in second-chance points.
It was the final career home collegiate basketball regular-season game at DSU Fieldhouse for four Trojan seniors – Falcon Albers, Boomsma, Daniels and Farquah.
Dakota State heads on the road Friday as they continue their North Star action, visiting No. 22-ranked Mayville State (N.D.). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.
Viterbo (Wis.) returns back home as they conclude their regular-season schedule with a three-game home stand at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium. The V-Hawks kick off their home stand with a pair of NSAA games next weekend, hosting Presentation (S.D.) Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Dickinson State (N.D.) next Saturday at 5 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
Seniors Recognition
Trojan Athletic Club Check Presentation (Wild Game Feed and Frozen Trojan Ice Fishing Tournament)
Terry Ryan Distinguished Service Award - Dana Hoff
