January 26, 2019

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Waldorf (Iowa) overcame Dakota State's (S.D.) hot first-half shooting Saturday evening, mounting a late comeback for a 68-64 North star Athletic Association men's basketball conference victory at Hanson Fieldhouse.  The Trojans and Warriors met six days later after DSU won the first meeting at DSU Fieldhouse.

DSU dropped their second straight game, falling to 8-17 overall record and 3-6 record in league play.  Waldorf ended their six-game losing skid, improving their overall record to 6-16 and 2-7 NSAA record.

Dakota State was perfect 8-of-8 from the field, racing to an 18-10 lead with sixteen minutes and ten seconds on the clock.  Justin Folkers made the first four field goals for the Trojans, while Brady Elder drained two 3-pointers and Brady Van Holland with a pair of baskets.

After the Warriors went on a 7-0 run to cut their deficit to 18-17, the Trojans stormed back with a 16-4 outburst to earn the game's biggest lead at 34-21 after a 3-pointer by Will Parry with 5:39 left in the first-half.

Van Holland hit a basket just a few ticks before halftime as Dakota State held a 41-30 lead.

The Trojans missed only eight shots in the first-half, shooting a blazing 69.2 percent from the field (18-of-26).  The Warriors were 12-of-28 field goals (42.9 percent) in the first ten minutes.

Waldorf started the second half with a 13-1 scoring surge, cutting Dakota State's lead down to 43-42 with 16:44 remaining.

Leading 49-47, Elder hit a 3-pointer followed by Anthony Costello's basket to extend DSU's lead to 54-47 with 11:36 left.

The Warriors then used a 15-4 run to earn a 62-58 lead with less than six minutes to go in the game.

Folkers hit a three-pointer as the Trojans tied the game at 62-62 with 3:14 left.

Brain Smith made a basket to give WU a 66-64 lead, but DSU answered back with basket by Costello for the second tie of the game at 64-64 with 2:16 remaining.

Demitrius Martin made both free-throws to give the Warriors a 66-64 lead with less than a minute to go.

Dakota State was unable to convert their scoring chances in the final minute of the game, despite committing a pair of turnovers. 

WU's Melvin Martin made the final basket of the game to complete the final score.

Waldorf outscored Dakota State 38-23 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Warriors were 13-of-27 from the field (48.1 percent in the second-half) compared to the Trojans 35.7 percent (10-of-28).

Folkers produced game-highs 23 points and collected 11 rebounds for DSU.  It was his seventh double-double of the season.  Folkers went 11-of-15 from the field.  Costello added a double-double, his first collegiate double-double, with 13 points and earned 10 rebounds.  He was 6-of-10 from the field.

Elder and Van Holland each had nine points.  Parry scored six points off the bench.  Cody Muilenburg dished out three assists.  Folkers, Van Holland and Muilenburg each had a block.

Demitrius Martin led the Warriors with 19 points, seven assists and seven rebounds.  He was 7-of-11 from the field and converted all four free-throws.  Shay Motter, Smith, and Quincy Minor, Jr. each added nine points.  Brady Kuchinka and Melvin Martin each stole the ball twice.

Dakota State shot 51.9 percent overall from the field (28-of-54) compared to Waldorf 45.5 percent (25-of-55).  The Warriors were 9-of-23 from the 3-point arc (39.1 percent), while the Trojans were 6-of-17 3-pointers (35.3 percent).

WU went to the free-throw line 12 times, making nine free-throws (75 percent).  DSU was 2-of-3 free-throws.

The Warriors had a slim rebounding edge over the Trojans (30-29). 

Dakota State looks to bounce back in the winning column as they return home next weekend.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) in the 'Ag Ball' game at DSU Fieldhouse on Friday (Feb. 1).  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Next Saturday (Feb. 2), DSU plays their final regular-season home game versus Valley City State (N.D.) at 5 p.m.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director