November 6, 2021

SALINA, Kan. – Trailing as many as 22 points on the second day of the Coyote Classic hosted by Kansas Wesleyan Saturday afternoon, Dakota State's (S.D.) furious late comeback fell short to Bethany (Kan.) by the score of 72-66.  The Trojans could get no closer than four points with less than 35 seconds remaining in the game.

Dakota State is 1-6 overall record.  Bethany improved to 3-1 overall record.

The Trojans head to Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D. for the Isreal-Strong Classic, hosted by Presentation (S.D.).  DSU takes on Trinity Bible (N.D.) with an 8 p.m. tip-off.  There will be a developmental men's basketball game with Presentation prior to the game at 6 p.m.

Bethany (Kan.) 72, Dakota State (S.D.) 66 – FINAL

• Both teams battled through three ties and six lead changes in the early going of the game.  Lamarr Wood hit a basket (assisted by Berto Gittens) to give DSU a 15-14 lead with 12:38 on the clock.
• The Swedes went on a 15-2 scoring tear for nearly four minutes to earn a 29-17 lead after a 3-point play by Zach Fields with 8:44 left in the first half.
• The Trojans trimmed BU's lead to 33-28 after going on an 11-4 run, capped by a basket by Deshawn Kelly with less than four minutes to go before intermission.
• Bethany went on to score the next seven points to balloon their lead to 40-28 after a 3-pointer by Dylan Smith with 1:09 on the clock.
• Maxwell Nielson ended the scoring drought with a basket, trialing 40-30 with 45 seconds left in the first half.
• Bethany shot 56.7 percent from the field, making 17-of-30 field goals in the first half.  Dakota state was 50 percent (10-of-20 field goals). 
• The Swedes held the Trojans scoreless for nearly first five minutes of the second half, sparking a 9-0 run to balloon their lead to 49-30 with 15:19 left.
• Fields nailed down a pair of free-throws as the Swedes earned the biggest lead of the game at 53-31 with less than 13 minutes remaining in the game.
• Trailing 65-47, three different Trojan players – Gittens, Nielson, and Jaxon Simons – drained a 3-pointer to fuel an 11-0 outburst to cut BU's lead to 65-58 with 3:34 remaining.
• Bethany regained the double-digit lead at 68-58 with 1:42 left.
• Dakota State roared back with an 8-2 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer followed by a 4-point play by Nielson with less than 35 seconds to go.
• Jalen Washington hit a pair of free-throws to extend the Swedes' lead to 72-66 with 31 seconds remaining.
• The Trojans could not convert their scoring chances in the final seconds of the game, securing the victory for the Swedes.
• DSU outscored BU 36-32 in the second half.  Bethany was 10-of-25 from the field (40 percent) and converted 12-of-18 free-throws.  Dakota State was 34.3 percent from the field (34.3 percent), including 9-of-22 from the 3-point arc (40.9 percent).
• Nielson poured in a season-high 27 points for Dakota State.  He was 9-of-20 from the field, 6-of-14 from the 3-point line and converted 3-of-4 free-throws.  Jordan Lynn scored 11 points, stole the ball four times, and dished out three assists.
• Kelly scored 10 points off the bench for the Trojans.  Simons dished out five assists.  Ronnie Latting and Wood each registered two blocks.  Gittens had five points and five rebounds.
• Solomon Clayton led the Swedes with 19 points on his 8-of-12 field goals and stole the ball three times.  Dylan Smith and Fields each added 13 points.  Fields produced four assists and recorded three steals.
• LeNorris Mincey had 10 points and seven rebounds for Bethany.  Clayton grabbed six rebounds. 
• BU shot 49.1 percent overall from the field (27-of-55 field goals) compared to DSU 40 percent (22-of-55 field goals).  The Trojans hit 12 3-pointers in 31 attempts (38.7 percent), while the Swedes hit 1-of-7 from the 3-point arc. 
• Bethany was 17-of-24 free-throws (70.8 percent).  DSU converted 10-of-14 free-throws (71.4 percent).
• BU won the rebounding battle, outrebounding DSU 38-29.
• The Swedes outscored the Trojans 15-5 in fast-break points and 51-29 inside the paint.  DSU outscored BU 14-4 in second-chance points and 45-17 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information DIrector