December 18, 2021

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Manhattan Christian (Kan.) converted 22-of-29 free-throws Saturday afternoon, holding off Dakota State (S.D.) 82-73 in a non-conference men's basketball contest at Howie's Activities Center.  The Thunder led 37-28 by halftime and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Dakota State, who was seeking for their first road victory this season, dropped their overall record to 3-11.  Manhattan Christian lifted their overall record to 6-5.

The Trojans step aside their regular-season play Monday evening, visiting NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato.  The exhibition contest tips off at 5 p.m. from the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

Manhattan Christian (Kan.) 82, Dakota State (S.D.) 73 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Manhattan Christian went through a see-saw battle in the first ten minutes of the game.
• Trailing 12-6, the Trojans went on an 11-2 outburst to grab a 17-14 lead after a dunk by Deshawn Kelly with 11:02 on the clock I the first half.
• Holding a slim 30-28 lead, the Thunder closed the first half with a 7-0 run in the final 57 seconds to balloon their lead to 37-28.  The scoring run was capped by a 3-pointer from Dyelan Reed.
• DSU was 13-of-30 from the field (43.3 percent) and 1-of-9 from the 3-point arc in the first twenty minutes of the game.  MCC was 15-of-36 field goals (41.7 percent) and hit five 3-pointers in 14 tries in the first half.
• Berto Gittens made a layup as the Trojans trimmed Manhattan Christian's lead to 40-34 with 17:45 remaining.
• The Thunder went on a 9-2 scoring tear to widen their lead to 49-36 with 13:09 left in the game.
• Ronnie Latting made a dunk as DSU cut MCC's lead to 53-46 with 9:42 remaining.
• Dakota State could get no closer than five points at 55-50 after a layup by Kelly with 8:40 on the clock.
• The Thunder went on a 15-5 outburst to extend their lead to 70-55 with less than four-and-half minutes to go, securing their victory.
• Both teams scored 45 points in the final twenty minutes of the game.  DSU shot a sizzling 52.9 percent form the field in the second half (18-of-34) compared to MCC 45.8 percent (11-of-24 field goals).
• Manhattan Christian hit 20-of-26 free-throws in the final twenty minutes, while Dakota State was 5-of-9 free-throws.
• Latting paced the Trojans with 17 points on his 8-of-13 field goal shooting.  He grabbed nine rebounds and stole the ball twice.  Lamarr Wood added 16 points (7-of-11 field goals) and four rebounds.
• Gittens tallied 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists for DSU.  Kelly scored 11 points and earned four rebounds off the bench.  Chris Morales had seven points and four rebounds.  Maxwell Nielson recorded four rebounds.  Zay Williams had six points off the bench. 
• Jordan Marshall led the Thunder with 21 points (7-of-12 field goals, 3-of-5 3-pointers, and 4-of-6 free-throws).  He had eight rebounds and two blocks.  Jordan White added 18 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
• Reed registered 13 points, five rebounds, and stole the ball three times for Manhattan Christian.  Nate Awbrey scored eight points off the bench.
• Dakota State shot 48.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-64 field goals) and 5-of-19 3-pointers.  Manhattan Christian was 43.3 percent from the field (26-of-60 field goals) and 8-of-24 from the 3-point arc.
• The Thunder hit 75.9 percent from the free-throw line (22-of-29 free-throws).  The Trojans struggled from the fee-throw line, making 6-of-15 free-throws (40 percent).
• DSU outrebound MCC 36-35. 
• Dakota State outscored Manhattan Christian 48-26 inside the paint.     

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information