November 27, 2021

FREMONT, Neb. – Dakota State's (S.D.) second half comeback fell short on the first day of the Draemel Classic, dropping a 70-60 men's basketball contest to host-team Midland (Neb.) at Events Center.  The Warriors completed the season series sweep of the Trojans (defeated DSU 73-62 on the first day of the Dakota State tournament on Oct. 22 at DSU Fieldhouse).

Dakota State fell to 2-8 overall record.  Midland lifted their overall record to 7-3.

The Trojans wrap up their preseason tournament Sunday afternoon against Mount Marty (S.D.).  Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Events Center on the second day of the Draemel Classic.

Midland (Neb.) 70, Dakota State (S.D.) 60 – FINAL

• Midland quickly opened the game with a 5-0 lead, capped by layup by Bo Sandquist with eighteen minutes, four seconds on the clock.
• Lamarr Wood and Ronnie Latting answered with back-to-back layups as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 5-4 with 16:40 left in the first half.
• Leading 10-8, Sandquist scored eight points to spark MU's 13-0 scoring surge.  Colton Uhing hit a basket to balloon the Warriors' lead to 23-8 with 10:42 on the clock in the first.
• Dakota State answered with five straight points by Wood, cutting MU's lead to 23-13 with 8:41 to go in the first half.
• Laurence Merritt drained a 3-pointer to give Midland its largest lead of the game at 38-20 with 1:24 to go before intermission.
• Chris Morales hit a 3-pointer to start DSU's 7-0 scoring run.  The Trojans trailed 38-27 after Jordan Lynn scored four straight points.
• Sandquist made three free-throws to extend Midland's lead to 41-27 by halftime.
• Midland missed its only nine shots in the first twenty minutes of the game, making 14-of-23 field goals (60.9 percent).  The Warriors also drained eight 3-pointers in 15 attempts (53.3 percent). 
• DSU was held to 36.7 percent from the field in the first half, converting 11 baskets in 30 tries.  The Trojans were 2-of-10 from the 3-point arc.
• Dakota State stormed back to kick off the second half, holding Midland scoreless for nearly six-and-half minutes.  The Trojans sparked a 11-0 outburst, capped by a 3-pointer from Jaxon Simons to trim MU's lead to 41-38 with 13:56 remaining.
• The Warriors ended its scoring drought with a basket with 13:36 left, leading 43-38.
• The Trojans trailed by two points at 46-44 with 12:03 remaining after a pair of free-throws by Wood.
• Midland stretched its lead into double digit at 57-47 with 7:08 left after a 9-2 scoring run.
• MU maintained its lead for the rest of the game.  The Trojans could get no closer than four points on several occasions. 
• Maxwell Nielson hit a pair of free-throws as DSU trailed 62-58 with three minutes left in the game. 
• Midland closed the game with an 8-2 run in the final 1:54 to secure the victory.
• The Trojans outscored the Warriors 33-29 in second half.  DSU was 10-of-23 from the field (43.5 percent) and hit 11-of-15 free-throws in the final twenty minutes.  MU was 8-of-23 field goals (34.8 percent) and 10-of-17 free-throws.
• Wood paced Dakota State with a double-double of 15 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.  He was 6-of-7 from the field and converted 3-of-4 free-throws.  He also stole the ball twice and recorded a blocked shot.
• Simons added 13 points and three rebounds for DSU.  Lynn tallied 11 points and contributed four assists.  He had four rebounds and two steals.  Morales scored 11 points off the bench.  Nielson stole the ball three times.
• Sandquist poured in 32 points on his 10-of-17 field goals, 6-of-10 3-pointers, and 6-of-9 free-throws for Midland.  He had six rebounds and two steals.  Merritt added 18 points and five rebounds.  Emanuel Bryson had eight points five rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
• Ryan Larsen had six rebounds and four assists for the Warriors. 
• Midland shot 47.8 percent overall from the field (22-of-48 field goals) compared to Dakota State 39.6 percent (21-of-53 field goals).  The Warriors made 11 3-pointers in 26 attempts (42.3 percent), while the Trojans were 4-of-20 3-pointers (20 percent). 
• MU converted 15-of-24 free-throws (62.5 percent).  DSU was 14-of-20 free-throws (70 percent).
• Dakota State won the rebounding battle, outrebounding Midland 35-28 (11-4 on offensive boards).
• The Trojans outscored the Warriors 32-16 inside the paint, 7-3 in second chance points, and 11-7 in points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director