January 12, 2019
MAYVILLE, N.D. – Mayville State (N.D.) raced to a 20-2 early lead in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference action over Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday evening at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse. The Comets never looked back as they cruised to a 93-73 victory over the Trojans.
Dakota State fell to 7-14 overall record and 2-3 record in league play. Mayville State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 11-5 overall record and 3-2 NSAA conference record.
The Comets opened up the game by going 5-of-7 from the field, storming to an 11-0 lead and forced the Trojans to burn their first timeout of the game with sixteen minutes and fifty-six seconds on the clock. DSU ended their scoring drought with a basket by Justin Folkers with 16:37 left in the first (Trojans trailed 11-2).
Mayville State then outscored Dakota State 23-3 in a span of six-plus minutes, ballooning their lead to 34-5 with 10:30 remaining before intermission.
MSU recorded its biggest lead of the game at 58-27 with 30 seconds left in the first-half. Brady Elder hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans cut Comets' lead to 58-29 by halftime.
Mayville State shot a blazing 64.9 percent from the field (24-of-37) in the first twenty minutes of the game, including 7-of-17 from the 3-point line. Dakota State was 40.7 percent from the field (11-of-27) and 3-of-7 3-pointers.
The Comets maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game. The Trojans could not get no closer than 13 points after a basket by Anthony Costello with 5:12 remaining (DSU trailed 83-70).
Dakota State outscored Mayville State 44-35 in the second-half, thanks to a sizzling 76 percent field goal shooting (19-of-25). The Comets were held to 41.9 percent from the field (13-of-31).
Folkers posted his sixth double-double of the season, pouring in a game-high 26 points on his 13-of-21 field goal shooting for the Trojans. He pulled down 10 rebounds. Elder added 15 points (5-of-6 field goals). Costello tallied 12 points off the bench. Brady Van Holland and Mitchell Biever each scored six points.
Elder and Biever each recorded three assists for DSU. Costello had a blocked shot.
Mayville State used a balanced scoring offense attack with five different players scoring in double digits. Gorg Alhag led the Comets with 19 points (8-of-13 field goals), produced four assists and pulled down six rebounds. Daniel Lindgren added 15 points. Max Cooper scored 12 points. Eric Staebler had 11 points and earned eight rebounds. Jack Turnbull had 11 points.
Daymarcco Green stole the ball four times for MSU. Kobe Critchley had four assists.
DSU shot 57.7 percent overall from the field (30-of-52) compared to MSU 54.4 percent (37-of-68). The Comets drained 12 3-pointers in 31 attempts (38.7 percent), while the Trojans were 6-of-11 3-pointers (54.5 percent).
Mayville State converted 7-of-9 free-throws (77.8 percent). Dakota State was 7-of-12 free-throws (58.3 percent).
The Comets outrebounded the Trojans 32-25. MSU outscored DSU 13-3 on second-chance points and 19-4 in points off turnovers.
Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column as they wrap up their first-half portion of the North Star conference schedule. The Trojans host Waldorf (Iowa) Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., followed by another league game versus Viterbo (Wis.) next Saturday at 5 p.m. Both games will be held at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison, S.D.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
