November 2, 2019

Photos credit by Karen Giles

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 6-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) kicked off their 2019-20 season with an 80-62 victory over Dakota State (S.D.) on the first day of the NAIA South Dakota Basketball men's basketball classic at the Sanford Pentagon Saturday evening. 

Sanford Pentagon will be the site for the final year of the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament.

Dakota State fell to 0-5 overall record.  The Trojans seek for the first win as they face Mount Marty (S.D.) on the second day of the NAIA South Dakota Basketball Classic.

(6) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 80, Dakota State (S.D.) 62 – FINAL

• Both teams went through four lead changes in the first four-and-half minutes of the game, with the Trojans leading as many as five points at 7-2 after a pair of free-throws by Gare Ewefada with 18:18 left in the first-half.
• Leading 25-23, the Tigers went on a 10-2 run to earn its first double-digit lead of the game at 35-25 after a 3-pointer by Nick Harden with 3:36 left in the first.
• Dakota Wesleyan closed the first-half by scoring eight straight points in the final 2:11, widening their lead to 43-29.  The Tigers were 16-of-32 from the field (50 percent) compared to the Trojans 45.5 percent (10-of-22 field goals).
• DWU maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading as many as 19 points (72-53 after a basket by Ty Hoglund with 4:21 remaining).  The Trojans could get no closer than 10 points at 45-35 after a 3-poitner by Brady Elder with 17:42 left.
• The Tigers outscored the Trojans 37-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game. 
• Josh McGreal led DSU with 15 points (4-of-7 field goals and 6-of-7 free-throws).  He also collected five rebounds and a blocked shot.  Ewefada added 13 points (6-of-8 free-throws) and contributed a game-high four assists. 
• Anthony Costello scored 10 points off the bench for Dakota State.  He pulled down six rebounds.  Elder tallied eight points.  Cole Bruhn and Gavin Schipper each had six points.  McGreal, Elder, Ewefada and Sawyer Koch each stole the ball once.
• Hoglund led the Tigers with 29 points on his 10-of-17 field goal shooting and made all seven free-throw attempts.  Harden added 25 points (9-of-17 field goals and 4-of-6 free-throws).  He dished out three assists. 
• Tristan Teichmeier collected seven rebounds for DWU.  Collin Kramer had six rebounds.  Samuel McCloud had three steals.
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 45.3 percent overall from the field (29-of-64) compared to Dakota State 39.1 percent (18-of-46).  The Tigers were 6-of-18 3-pointers, while the Trojans were 4-of-13 3-pointers.
• DSU converted 22-of-30 free-throws (73.3 percent), with 16-of-20 free-throws coming in the second-half.  DWU was 16-of-18 free-throws (88.9 percent), 10-of-11 free-throws in the final twenty minutes.
• Dakota Wesleyan outrebounded Dakota State 41-28 (12-4 on offensive boards).  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 20-4 in second-chance points. 
• Both teams will play their second meeting of the season on New Year Day at DSU Fieldhouse (Jan. 1, 2020).

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director