February 9, 2019

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) led for the majority of the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference game at Scott Gymnasium, cruising past Dakota State (S.D.) 86-57 Saturday evening.  The Blue Hawks and the Trojans split their two conference meetings, with each team winning at its home court.

Dakota State fell to 9-20 overall record and in a three-way tie for fifth with 4-9 North Star conference record (Viterbo, Wis. and Valley City State, N.D.).  Dickinson State won their fifth straight game to raise their overall record to 12-12 and 8-5 record in North Star conference games.

The Trojans earned the first lead of the game after a free-throw by Justin Folkers with nineteen minutes and fifteen seconds on the clock.  DaSU's lead was short-lived as the Blue Hawks went on an 11-0 scoring tear to take an 11-1 lead with 17:22 on the clock.

Dakota State answered back with an 8-3 scoring run to cut Dickinson State's lead to 13-9.  The Blue Hawks then used a 12-0 outburst to widen their lead to 24-9 with 10:29 left in the first-half.

DiSU led 43-21 by halftime, thanks to their 53.1 percent field goal shooting in the first-half (17-of-32 field goals).  DaSU was held to 29 percent from the field (9-of-31) in the first ten minutes of the game.

Dickinson State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game to secure the game, outscoring the Trojans 43-36 in the second-half.

Folkers paced DaSU with 19 points (9-of-16 field goals).  Josh McGreal added 18 points (6-of-13 field goals and converted 5-of-6 free-throws).  Carson Rentz scored six points.  Cody Muilenburg had five points and contributed three assists.

Will Parry grabbed a season-high eight rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  He also had two assists and a block.  McGreal and Muilenburg each added five rebounds.  Brady Van Holland and Rentz each had two assists.  McGreal and Van Holland each recorded a steal.

Melvin Collins poured in 26 points on his 10-of-18 field goals and 4-of-4 free-throws for the Blue Hawks.  He had six rebounds.  Travon Hamilton added 24 points on his 10-of-17 field goals off the bench.  He produced six assists.  Malcohm Hill had 10 points off the bench.

Dickinson State shot 47.9 percent overall from the field (34-of-71) compared to Dakota State 32.8 percent (22-of-67).  The Blue Hawks were 9-of-29 3-pointers (31 percent), while the Trojans were 3-of-25 3-pointers (12 percent).

Dakota State converted 10-of-16 free-throws (62.5 percent).  Dickinson State was 9-of-12 from the free-throw line (75 percent).

The Blue Hawks outrebounded the Trojans 47-36.  DiSU outscored DaSU 15-3 in points off turnovers and 48-7 in bench points.

Dakota State closes out their regular-season schedule next Saturday (Feb. 16) against their traveling partner, Bellevue (Neb.).  The game is set for 5 p.m. at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue, Neb.    

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director