February 1, 2019

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Mayville State (N.D.) shot a blazing 61.3 percent from the field and drained 12 3-pointers, cruising to a 90-47 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference win at DSU Fieldhouse Friday evening.  The Comets never trailed in the game.  It was the first Ag Ball game for Dakota State.

The Trojans fell to 8-18 overall record and 3-7 record in league play.  Mayville State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their fourth straight game to lift their overall record to 15-6 and 7-3 record in NSAA contests.

The Comets went 6-of-6 from the 3-point line (with five different players hitting a 3-pointer – Daniel Lindgren with back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by Jack Turnbull, Kobe Critchley, Eric Staebler and Creighton Pfau) to gain a 22-5 lead with thirteen minutes and thirty-six seconds on the clock.

Mayville State shot 66.7 percent from the field by the first-half media timeout, missing only six shots (12-of-18 field goals).  The Comets were 8-of-11 from the 3-point line, widening their lead to 32-12 after a 3-pointer by Peyton Christmas with 9:35 on the clock.

Josh McGreal, who returned back from an injury sustained at the Corn Palace Classic last December, made a basket as the Trojans could get no closer than 16 points at 32-16 with 7:33 remaining in the first-half.

MSU led 52-23 by halftime after going 19-of-31 from the field and 12-of-19 3-pointers (63.2 percent).  DSU was held to 30.3 field goal shooting (10-of-33 field goals) and 1-of-8 3-pointers.

Mayville State maintained control for the rest of the game to secure the win.  The Comets outscored the Trojans 38-24 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Justin Folkers scored a game-high 22 points on his 10-of-22 field goals.  He surpassed Scot Namanny (1,418 career points from 1997-2001) as the eighth all-timer scorer in DSU men's basketball history.  Folkers scored 1,436 career points in his four-year career with DSU. 

McGreal tallied nine points and pulled down six rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  Brady Elder scored seven points and dished out five assists.  Brady Van Holland had five points, six rebounds and dished out four assists.  Anthony Costello collected six rebounds. 

The balanced scoring offensive attack was led by Lindgren with 16 points (6-of-8 field goals and 4-of-5 3-pointers) for the Comets.  Gorg Alhag added 15 points.  Max Cooper scored 12 points (6-of-9 field goals).  Eric Staebler had 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Daymarcco Green grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for MSU.  Alhag had four assists. 

Mayville State shot 53.8 percent overall from the field (35-of-65), including 14-of-24 3-pointers (48.3 percent).  The Comets were 6-of-8 free-throws (75 percent).

Dakota State was held to 33.9 percent overall from the field (21-of-62).  The Trojans were 3-of-14 from the 3-point line and struggled at the free-throw line by going 2-of-6 (33.3 percent).

MSU outrebounded DSU 44-29 in the game. 

DSU looks to conclude their home schedule on a winning note.  Dakota State hosts Valley City State in another North Star contest.  Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m.  There will be a brief senior ceremony prior to the warm-up, honoring their lone senior Justin Folkers.

Mayville State heads south to take on the North Star's conference leader Bellevue (Neb.).  The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

DSU Veteran of the Game - Austin Slaughter