January 5, 2019

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Holding a slim two-point halftime lead Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) outscored Dickinson State (N.D.) 45-36 in the final twenty minutes of the game for a 71-62 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference action.  It was the first conference win of the season for the Trojans. 

Dakota State improved their overall record to 6-13, while Dickinson State fell to 5-9 overall record.  Both teams are 1-2 record in the North Star Athletic Association conference games.  By the end of the day, four teams are tied for first with a 2-1 NSAA record and four teams are 1-2 record in league play.

DaSU and DiSU struggled offensively in the first twenty minutes of the game, registering five ties and seven lead changes.

Knotted at 12-12, the Blue Hawks established control of the game by using an 11-4 run for a 23-16 lead after a pair of free-throws by Michael Vandall with 6:48 on the clock.

The Trojans stormed back with a 12-0 outburst (from six different scorers – Brady Elder, Anthony Costello, Carson Rentz, Brady Van Holland, Will Parry and Cody Muilenburg) to regain a 28-23 lead with 1:32 left before intermission.  DiSU missed five shots and committed four turnovers during DaSU's scoring surge.

Travon Hamilton completed a 3-point play as Dickinson State trimmed Dakota State's lead to 28-26 with 1:05 on the clock.  Both teams were unable to score in the final minute of the first-half.

Dakota State kicked off the second-half with a 13-6 run for the largest lead of the game.  Justin Folkers converted a 3-point play to put Trojans up 41-32 with 15:18 remaining.

The Blue Hawks rallied back with a 12-2 run to regain their lead to 44-43 after a basket by Melvin Collins with less than 11 minutes left.

Trailing 46-45, the Trojans went on 15-6 surge to open up a 60-52 lead with 4:38 left after a basket by Folkers.

Dickinson State could get no closer than three points at 60-57 when Collins hit a 3-pointer with 2:57 on the clock.  Folkers made a basket followed by a 3-pointer by Van Holland to widen DaSU's lead to 65-57, putting the game way with 1:08 left.

The Trojans secured the game by making all four free-throw attempts in the final 25 seconds of the game (two free-throws made each by Elder and Van Holland).

Dakota State shot a blazing 50 percent from the field (16-of-32) in the second-half, including 4-of-8 from the 3-point arc.  Dickinson State was held to 37.9 percent (11-of-29 field goals) and 4-of-9 3-pointers.

Folkers produced his fifth double-double of the season, pouring of 25 points (game-high) and collected 10 rebounds for the Trojans.  He was 10-of-14 from the field, 2-of-2 from the 3-point line and made 3-of-4 free-throws.  Elder added 14 points.  Costello tallied 10 points.  Rentz had eight points.  Van Holland scored seven points.

Muilenburg dished out a season-high eight assists and grabbed six rebounds for DaSU.  Folkers and Muilenburg each had two blocks.  Mitchell Biever recorded six rebounds and stole the ball twice.

Collins had a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Blue Hawks.  He also had three assists.  Vandall scored 19 points (6-of-9 field goals, 3-of-5 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free-thrwos).  Hamilton tallied nine points.  Malcohm Hill registered eight rebounds off the bench.

Dakota State shot 43.5 percent overall from the field (27-of-62) and held Dickinson State to 33.3 percent (20-of-60).  The Blue Hawks were 6-of-21 from the 3-point line, while the Trojans were 5-of-16 3-pointers.

DiSU converted 16-of-22 free-throws (72.7 percent).  DaSU made 12-of-15 free-throws (80 percent).

Dickinson State outrebounded Dakota State 45-35 in the game (17-10 on offensive rebounds).  The Blue Hawks outscored the Trojans 11-3 in second-chance points. 

DaSU outscored DiSU 32-24 inside the paint.

A total of six ties and 11 lead changes were recorded in the game.

Dakota State heads on the road next weekend, continuing their North Star conference action.  The Trojans make their first stop in Valley City State (N.D.) at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m.  DaSU travels to Mayville State (N.D.) next Saturday at 5 p.m.

Dickinson State steps outside of their regular-season play on Sunday, visiting NCAA Division I North Dakota State in an exhibition game.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. at Scheels Center in Fargo, N.D.  The Blue Hawks return back to conference play, kicking off their four-game home stand versus Waldorf (Iowa) on Friday.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director