January 24, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – Waldorf (Iowa) shot a blazing 56.7 percent from the field in the second-half, including 6-of-12 3-pointers, earning a 78-75 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action at DSU Fieldhouse Friday evening.  The Trojans held a five-point halftime lead, while the Warriors outscored DSU 47-39 in the final twenty minutes of the game to secure the victory.

DSU fell to 5-15 overall record and 1-4 NSAA conference record.  WU improved to 6-13 overall record and 3-3 record in North Star contests (three-way tie for third in the conference standings with Viterbo and Dickinson State).

The Trojans and Warriors will meet for the second North Star conference meeting next Saturday in Forest City, Iowa.

Dakota State looks to end their losing skid as they continue their North Star action Saturday evening, hosting Viterbo (Wis.).  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  Waldorf travels to Bellevue (Neb.) on the same day, playing at Gordon Lozier Center at 5 p.m.

Waldorf (Iowa) 78, Dakota State (S.D.) 75 – FINAL

• Both teams were unable to establish control in the first 16 minutes of the game, going through six ties and six lead changes, with the lead no bigger than three points by both teams.
• Leading 26-23, Gare Ewefada hit a field goal to give DSU a 28-23 lead with 3:25 to go in the first-half.  WU answered back on the following possession with a 3-pointer by Tristan Furgeson as they trailed 28-28 with 2:43 on the clock.
• A basket by Anthony Costello gave the Trojans its biggest lead of the first-half at 32-26 with 2:10 remaining.
• Dakota State stretched its lead to 36-31 with a few seconds before intermission when Brady Van Holland stole the ball and drove in for a lay-up.
• The Warriors shot 13-of-25 from the field (52 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans shot 51.6 percent from the field (16-of-31 field goals).
• Waldorf went on a 28-19 scoring tear until the second-half media timeout for a 59-55 lead, thanks to their sizzling 66.7 percent shooting from the field (10-of-15 field goals).  The Warriors were 5-of-6 from the 3-point line.  DSU was 6-of-13 from the field (46.2 percent) and missed all seven 3-point field goal attempts during the span.
• After a completed 3-point play by DSU's Ewefada to cut WU's lead to 65-64 five minutes remaining, WU went on an 11-2 scoring tear to grab the largest lead of the game at 76-66 after a pair of free-throws by Quincy Minor, Jr. with less than 35 seconds left.
• Dakota State hit three straight 3-pointers in the final 15 seconds of the game (Josh McGreal, Costello and Van Holland), but fell short by three points.
• Waldorf shot 17-of-30 from the field in the second-half compared to Dakota State 14-of-30 field goals (46.7 percent) and 3-of-16 3-pointers.
• There were a total of 11 lead changes and 10 ties recorded in the game.
• Costello poured in a game-high 29 points for the Trojans.  He was 13-of-21 from the field and pulled down nine rebounds.  McGreal added 21 points and collected nine rebounds.
• Ewefada tallied 11 points and three assists for DSU.  Van Holland had nine points and stole the ball three times.  Brady Elder dished out a game-high six assists.  Costello, Elder and Van Holland each had a blocked shot.
• Demitrius Martin led the Warriors with 23 points on his 10-of-15 field goals, including 3-of-4 3-pointers.  Minor, Jr. added 19 points (7-of-15 field goals).  Melvin Martin had 11 points and four steals.  Brady Kuchinka tallied 10 points.
• Melvin Marin and Minor, Jr. each pulled down seven rebounds for Waldorf.  Demitrius Martin contributed five assists.
• WU shot 30-of-55 field goals (54.5 percent) in the game compared to DSU 30-of-61 (49.2 percent).  The Warriors drained 9-of-20 3-pointers (45 percent), while the Trojans were 5-of-24 3-pointers (20.8 percent).
• Dakota State converted 10-of-12 free-throws (83.3 percent), while Waldorf struggled by going 9-of-19 free-throws (47.4 percent).
• Both teams collected 32 rebounds in the game, scored 11 points off turnovers, 38 points inside the paint, and 4-4 in second-chance points.  The Warriors outscored the Trojans 10-5 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director