December 30, 2020

Photos credit by Karen Giles

MADISON, S.D. – It was the tale of two halves between Dakota State (S.D.) and nationally-ranked Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference men's basketball contest at DSU Fieldhouse Wednesday evening.  The Trojans grabbed its biggest lead of the game (15 points) in the first half, but the Tigers outscored DSU 37-19 in the second half to earn a 69-60 victory.

Dakota State fell to 2-5 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan, who is ranked No. 18 in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, won their 11th straight game to lift their overall record to 11-1.

It was both teams' 176th all-time meeting on Wednesday evening.  Their 175th all-time meeting was earlier this month on Dec. 2 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, won by DWU 81-63.

Dakota State continues their season-long eight-game home stand Saturday evening, hosting Peru State (Neb.) in another non-conference contest.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

(18) Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 69, Dakota State (S.D.) 60 – FINAL

• Dakota State was red-hot from the field in the first seven-and-half minutes, sparking a 25-10 outburst.
• The Trojans were 12-of-14 from the field (85.7 percent) during the scoring run, including making their first eight field goals for a 17-10 lead with 15:08 to go after Ronnie Latting's basket (assisted by Jordan Lynn).
• DSU also scored eight straight points during the 25-10 scoring run (Josh McGreal with four points, Jade Burma and Gare Ewefada with two points each).
• Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead for the majority of the first half.  A 3-pointer by Ewefada also gave the Trojans its largest lead of the game for the second time at 33-18 with less than seven minutes to go before intermission.
• Ace Zorr hit a 3-pointer as the Tigers trimmed the Trojans' lead down to 41-32 by halftime.
• DSU shot 52.9 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (18-of-34 field goals).  DSU was held to 42.9 percent shooting from the field (12-of-28 field goals).
• The Trojans kicked off the second half with a 5-0 run with a basket by Jordan Lynn followed by a 3-pointer by McGreal, increasing their lead to 46-32 with 18:49 left.
• With DSU leading 52-41 with 13:08 on the clock, DWU stormed to a 24-4 outburst to grab a 65-56 lead after a basket by Marson Larson with three minutes left.  The Tigers were 11-of-16 from the field (68.8 percent) during the scoring surge.
• DSU could get no closer than five points at 65-60 after a pair of free-throws by Latting with 1:55 remaining.
• Dakota Wesleyan secured the game as Nick Harden converted all four free-throw attempts in the final 20 seconds of the game.
• DWU shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half (15-of-26 field goals) and held DSU to 25 percent (7-of-28 field goals).
• Four Trojan players scored in double digits, paced by McGreal with 15 points.  Latting added 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  He had two blocks.
• Lynn tallied 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Dakota State.  He dished out a season-high six assists.  Ewefada scored 10 points off the bench.  Gavin Schipper had eight points and two assists.  Ewefada and Cole Bruhn each stole the ball twice.  Brady Van Holland recorded five rebounds.
• Koln Oppold led the Tigers with a double-double of 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.  He had six assists.  Harden and Zorr each added 13 points.  Harden had four assists.  Zorr eared seven rebounds.
• Mason Larson had 11 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals for Dakota Wesleyan.  Jeffrey Schuch had nine points. 
• DWU shot 50 percent overall from the field (27-of-54 field goals) compared to DSU 40.3 percent (25-of-62 field goals).  Both teams went 6-of-20 from the 3-point arc (30 percent).
• The Tigers converted 9-of-14 free-throws (64.3 percent), while the Trojans made all four free-throw attempts. 
• Dakota Wesleyan outrebounded Dakota State 38-28.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 36-24 inside the paint, 10-5 in second chance points and 16-14 in bench points.  DSU outscored DWU 14-12 in points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director