December 2, 2020

MITCHELL, S.D. – Josh McGreal hit the 1,000-point club milestone at Dakota State (S.D.) Wednesday evening, despite falling to long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 81-63 in the 175th all-time series meeting at Corn Palace.  The Tigers shot 52.5 percent overall in the game, while the Trojans shot 45.8 percent.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 0-3.  Dakota Wesleyan won their sixth straight game after dropping their season opener game versus Valley City State (N.D.) last month, lifting their overall record to 6-1.

Both teams will be meeting for the second meeting of the season later this month on Dec. 30 at DSU Fieldhouse.

The Trojans kick off their North Star Athletic Association schedule on Saturday evening, hosting Bellevue (Neb.).  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  DSU also host Oak Hills (Minn.) for a non-conference contest on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 81, Dakota State (S.D.) 63 – FINAL

• Dakota Wesleyan kicked off the game by scoring five straight points to grab a 5-0 lead.  Nick Harden made a basket, followed by Koln Oppold's 3-pointer with eighteen minutes, forty-three seconds on the clock.
• Josh McGreal ended DSU's scoring drought with a basket with 17:52 left in the first half (Trojans trailed 5-2).
• Trailing 9-4, Dakota State went on a 6-0 scoring tear to earn their first lead of the game.  McGreal hit a basket with 14:04 on the clock for a 10-9 DSU lead.
• McGreal surpassed his 1,000-career point milestone with 11:20 on the clock to give Trojans a 17-16 lead.
• Both teams traded leads 10 times in the first half before the Tigers closed with a scoring run. 
• Leading 31-26, DWU held DSU to five points in the final 5:25 of the first half.  The Tigers increased their lead to 48-32, closing the half with a 17-6 surge.
• Dakota Wesleyan was 20-of-35 from the field (57.1 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Tigers were 6-of-13 from the 3-point arc.  Dakota State was 15-of-31 field goals (48.4 percent) and 1-of-2 from the 3-point line in the first half.
• DWU maintained control for the rest of the game, leading as many as 24 points.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 33-31 in the second half.
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 12-of-26 from the field in the second half (46.2 percent), while Dakota State was 12-of-28 field goals (42.9 percent).  DSU was 5-of-10 3-pointers in the final twenty minutes, while DWU was 3-of-11 3-pointers.
• McGreal finished the game with a season-high 24 points on his 11-of-16 field goal shooting for DSU.  Gavin Schipper tallied 12 points.  Jordan Lynn scored nine points.  Brady Van Holland scored eight points off the bench. 
• Ronnie Latting registered seven points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Trojans.  Lynn added five rebounds, two assists and stole the ball twice. 
• Harden paced the Tigers with 24 points on his 10-of-19 field goals.  Oppold and Ace Zorr each added 16 points.  Jeffrey Schuch had 10 points.  Oppold grabbed nine rebounds.  Zorr had eight rebounds.
• Harden dished out five assists for DWU.  He also stole the ball twice. 
• Dakota Wesleyan was 32-of-61 from the field compared to Dakota State 27-of-59 field goals.  The Tigers were 9-of-24 3-pointers, while the Trojans were 6-of-12 from the 3-point arc.
• DWU was perfect at the free-throw line, making all eight free-throws.  DSU was 3-of-7 from the free throw line.
• Dakota Wesleyan outrebounded Dakota State 32-23.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 44-16 inside the paint and 24-8 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director