January 22, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their largest lead of the game in the early second-half Friday evening, falling short to Waldorf (Iowa) 69-64 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball conference action at Hanson Fieldhouse.  The Warriors outscored the Trojans 48-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to their 58.6 percent shooting from the field.

DSU's four-game winning streak came to an end, falling to 6-9 overall record and 4-2 NSAA conference record.  WU improved to 3-11 overall record and 2-4 record in league games.

Dakota State looks to swing back in the winning column Saturday evening as they conclude their five-game road stretch at Viterbo (Wis.).  The NSAA contest is set for 5 p.m. at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis.

Waldorf (Iowa) 69, Dakota State (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Dakota State kept Waldorf scoreless for the first three minutes and fifty-five seconds of the game, allowing the Trojans earn a five-point lead.
• A free throw by Ronnie Latting, followed by back-to-back baskets by Josh McGreal gave DSU a 5-0 lead with 17:02 on the clock in the first half.
• The Warriors ended their scoring drought with a basket by Chett Helming with 16:05 left in the first (Trojans led 5-2).
• Jordan Lynn made a basket inside the paint as the Trojans stretched their lead to 20-12 with 6:05 left before halftime.
• Leading 24-17, Dakota State went on a 5-0 run for their first double digit lead of the game.  Gairges Daow nailed down a basket to give Trojans a 29-17 lead with less than two minutes left in the first half.
• Dakota State led 31-21 by halftime.  The Trojans were 13-of-40 from the field (32.5 percent), while the Warriors were 9-of-27 field goals (33.3 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• DSU outrebounded WU 27-17 in the first half, including 11-2 on the offensive rebounds.
• After the Warriors kicked off the second half with a basket by Shandon Hicks to cut DSU's lead down to eight points (31-23), Gavin Schipper scored five points to widen the Trojans' lead to 36-23 with 18:48 left.
• Brady Van Holland drained a 3-pointer as Dakota State posted its biggest lead of the game at 42-28 with 15:04 remaining.
• Waldorf went on a monstrous 15-0 outburst to regain their lead at 43-42 after a basket by Helming with 10:42 to go in the game.
• McGreal ended DSU's scoring drought on the ensuing possession as the Trojans regained their lead to 44-43 with 10:17 on the clock.
• Dakota State and Waldorf traded leads and tied the game for the next seven minutes before the Warriors pulled away late. 
• With DSU leading 55-54, the Warriors went on a 5-0 run to earn a 59-55 lead after Helming's 3-pointer with 3:31 remaining.  Schipper answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession as DSU trailed 59-58.
• At 61-60, WU used a 6-2 run after a pair of 3-pointer from Kesean Warren and Helming to expand their lead to 67-62 with less than a minute to go in the game.
• The Trojans could get no closer than three points at 67-64 after a basket by Latting.  Waldorf secured the game after Warren nailed down a pair of free-throws with less than 10 seconds remaining.
• WU shot 17-of-29 from the field in the final twenty minutes compared to DSU 12-of-28 field goals (42.9 percent).  Waldorf shot 6-of-10 from the 3-point line, while Dakota State hit 5-of-15 3-pointers.
• McGreal paced the Trojans with 18 points on his 8-of-13 field goals.  He also had three rebounds and two assists.  Schipper added 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.
• Van Holland had eight points and four rebounds for DSU.  Gare Ewefada scored seven points and pulled down four rebounds.  He stole the ball twice.  Latting grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds.  He also had two blocks.
• Helming scored a game-high 24 points on his 9-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-6 3-pointers for Waldorf.  Warren added a double-double of 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.  He had four assists.  Lorenzo Smith had 15 points and dished out four assists.
• Hicks tallied eight points and stole the ball four times for the Warriors.  Tristan Furgeson recorded three blocks.
• Waldorf shot 46.4 percent overall from the field (26-of-56 field goals) compared to Dakota State 36.8 percent (25-of-68 field goals).  The Warriors drained 8-of-19 3-pointers (42.1 percent), while the Trojans were 6-of-24 from the 3-point arc (25 percent).
• WU was near perfect at the free-throw line, making 9-of-10 free-throws (90 percent).  DSU was 8-of-13 from the free-throw line (61.5 percent).
• Dakota State outrebounded Waldorf 41-33.  The Trojans outscored the Warriors 15-2 in bench points.  WU outscored DSU 18-7 in points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director