October 27, 2021

MITCHELL, S.D. – Five Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) players scored in double digits Wednesday evening, cruising to a 74-52 non-conference victory over Dakota State (S.D.) at Corn Palace.  The Trojans were held to 28.8 field goal percentage in the game.

DSU fell to 0-3 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan was playing their season opening game.  Both teams will be meeting for the second meeting on Nov. 20 at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State returns home Sunday as they host in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  There will be a developmental game at 1 p.m., followed by the varsity contest at 3 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 74, Dakota State (S.D.) 52 – FINAL

• DWU took the first lead of the game after Koln Oppold hit a basket with nineteen minutes and forty-one seconds on the clock.
• Jaxon Simons followed up with a 3-pointer, assisted by Jordan Lynn, to give Trojans a 3-2 lead with 19:26 to go in the first half.
• Oppold continued its scoring surge, scoring the first 11 of DWU's 17 team points, ballooning their lead to 17-8 after draining a 3-pointer with 14:45 on the clock in the first period.
• Trailing 36-21, Dakota State closed the first half with a 7-3 run to cut Dakota Wesleyan's lead to 39-28 by halftime. 
• DSU was 10-of-27 from the field in the first half (37 percent).  DWU shot a blazing 54.8 percent from the field (17-of-31 field goals).
• Drew Cole hit a 3-pointer to give a 20-point cushion for the Tigers at 50-30 with 15:29 left in the game.
• The Trojans held DWU scoreless for the next three minutes, scoring eight straight points to trim their deficit to 50-38 after a 3-pointer by Maxwell Nielson with 12:44 to go.
• Dakota State could get no closer than 11 points at 56-45 after a 3-pointer by Simons.
• Ace Zorr made a lay-up to give Tigers a 72-49 with less than three minutes to go, securing the victory.
• DWU outscored DSU 35-24 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
• The Trojans were held to 21.9 percent from the field in the second half (7-of-32 field goals).  DWU shot 38.9 percent from the field (14-of-36 field goals).
• Simons led DSU with 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.  Nielson added eight points and three rebounds.
• Gavin Schipper tallied eight points off the bench for Dakota State.  Lamarr Wood also scored six points and pulled down eight rebounds.  He dished out three assists and registered three blocks.  Ronnie Latting had five points.
• Oppold poured in 20 points on his 9-of-16 field goals for DWU.  He posted a double-double with 12 points.  He dished out six assists and stole the ball twice.  Mason Larson scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds.  He had four blocks.
• Jeffrey Schuch had 10 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans.  Zorr had 10 points and nine rebounds.  Alan Kikwaki registered 10 points off the bench. 
• Dakota Wesleyan shot 46.3 percent overall from the field (31-of-67 field goals) compared to Dakota State 17-of-59 field goals.
• Both teams drained six 3-pointers in the game.  DSU converted 12-of-17 free-throws (70.6 percent), while DWU was 6-of-11 free-throws (54.5 percent).
• The Tigers outrebounded the Trojans 47-30. 
• DWU outscored DSU 44-12 inside the paint.  The Trojans outscored the Tigers 20-15 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director