November 28, 2021

FREMONT, Neb. – Mount Marty (S.D.) rallied back from Dakota State's (S.D.) 13-point lead to earn a 2-point lead with less than two minutes remaining Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Draemel Classic men's basketball, hosted by Midland (Neb.) at Events Center.  The Trojans shut down the Lancers in the final 1:18, fueling a 6-0 closing run for a 68-64 victory.

DSU improved their overall record to 3-8, completing their season series sweep of MMU (defeated Lancers 98-86 at DSU Fieldhouse on Oct. 31).  The Trojans won for the 16th time in the last 19 meetings with the Lancers.  MMU dropped their eighth straight game, falling to 3-9 overall record.

Dakota State opens their North Star Athletic Association season Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans welcome their traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.) with a 5 p.m. tip-off.

Dakota State (S.D.) 68, Mount Marty (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Mount Marty open a seven-point lead at 11-4 after a basket by Nick Coleman with fourteen minutes, eight seconds on the clock.
• Trailing 13-6, Dakota State went on an 11-1 outburst capped by Berto Gittens' 3-pointer for a 17-14 lead with 8:37 to go before intermission.
• At 17-16, the Trojans went on another scoring run.  Gittens ignited the scoring run with a 3-pointer, followed by four straight points by Jordan Lynn to stretch DSU's lead to 24-16 with 6:37 to go in the first half.
• Dakota State led 34-27 by halftime.  The Trojans shot 40.6 percent (13-of-32 field goals) in the first half and held the Lancers to 30.8 percent (8-of-26 field goals).  DSU outrebounded MMU 22-10.
• Ronnie Latting hit a layup to give DSU its largest lead of the game at 53-40 with 12 minutes remaining.
• The Trojans held a 60-48 lead with 8:36 left after a pair of free-throws by Jade Burma.
• Mount Marty held Dakota State scoreless for four-plus minutes, propelling their 11-0 outburst.  Tyrell Harper made a layup as the Lancers trimmed their deficit to 60-57 with 4:24 left.
• DSU snapped its scoring drought with a free-throw by Lynn, leading 61-57 with 4:04 to go.
• MMU went on 7-1 scoring tear to grab a 64-62 after Coleman's two free-throws with 1:42 remaining.
• Lynn hit a basket on the following possession as the Trojans knotted the game at 64-64 with 1:18 left.
• The Lancers failed to score on the next possession as DSU regained possession and called timeout with less than 40 seconds left.
• Following timeout, the Trojans missed a layup and was rebounded by Latting.  He made a layup as DSU regained their lead to 66-64 with 21 seconds to go.
• Mount Marty called a timeout.  Gittens recorded a blocked shot on Elijah Pappas' layup, earning a possession for the Trojans.  DSU closed the game with a dunk by Latting (assisted by Maxwell Nielson) to secure the victory at 68-64.
• The Lancers outscored the Trojans 37-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  MMU shot 52 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-25 field goals) compared to DSU 48 percent (12-of-25 field goals).
• Latting posted a double-double of 15 points and pulled down 12 rebounds (tied career-high) for Dakota State.  He was 7-of-13 from the field.  Gittens scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds off the bench. 
• Lynn tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists for DSU.  Nielson and Lamarr Wood each scored nine points.  Chris Morales had six points.  Jaxon Simons and Nielson each dished out two assists.
• Four MMU players hit double digits in scoring, paced by Pappas with 15 points.  He grabbed six rebounds.  Coleman added 14 points and four rebounds.
• Tyler Harper and Kade Stearns each added 11 points for the Lancers.  Harper had six rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.  Lincoln Jorde scored seven points off the bench.
• Dakota State shot 43.9 percent overall from the field (25-of-57 field goals) compared to Mount Marty 41.2 percent (21-of-51 field goals).  DSU was 6-of-17 from the 3-point arc, while the Lancers hit 5-of-15 3-pointers.
• Both teams struggled at the free-throw line.  Mount Marty hit 17-of-28 from the free-throw line (60.7 percent).  Dakota State converted 12 free-throws in 20 attempts (60 percent).
• The Trojans outrebounded the Lancers 41-27, including 12-6 on the offensive boards. 
• DSU outscored MMU 23-6 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director