December 29, 2021

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) outrebounded Northwestern (Iowa) 13-4 on offensive boards, as well as outscoring 17-2 in second chance points in propelling to a 62-54 non-conference men's basketball victory Wednesday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans won their third straight home meeting with the Red Raiders (Nov. 10, 2018, and Oct. 27, 2016).

DSU snapped their three-game losing skid, improving to 4-11 overall record.  Northwestern, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, fell to 11-5 overall record.

Dakota State kicks off the New Year on Saturday with another non-conference game versus No. 19 ranked Kansas Wesleyan.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (S.D.) 62, Northwestern (Iowa) 54 – FINAL

• Five ties and two lead changes, with the lead no greater than six points by the Trojans were recorded in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• Knotted at 12-12, the Red Raiders went on a quick 5-0 run sparked with a 3-pointer from Kade Fey followed by a basket by Alex Van Kalsbeek for a 17-12 lead with 10:34 on the clock.
• Down 21-16, Ronnie Latting scored four straight points followed by a pair of 3-pointers by Chris Morales to ignite DSU's 10-0 outburst for a 26-21 lead with 2:53 left before intermission.
• Ethan Klompien made a fast-break lay-up (assisted by Trent Hilbrands) as NWIA trimmed DSU's lead down to 26-25 with 1:24 to go in the first half.
• DSU closed the first half with a 5-0 scoring run in the final 1:00, capped by a 3-pointer by Morales to stretch their lead to 31-25.
• The Trojans were 37.5 percent from the field in the first half (12-of-32 field goals) and 5-of-15 from the 3-point arc.  The Red Raiders were 42.3 percent from the field (11-of-26 field goals) and 2-of-14 3-pointers.
• Dakota State never trailed for the rest of the game, leading the entire remaining 20 minutes for the victory.
• With the Trojans leading 35-30, Hilbrands highlighted a four-point play to cut NWIA's deficit down to 35-34 with 16:35 remaining.
• DSU answered back with a 5-0 run to widen their lead to 40-34 after a basket by Lamarr Wodd (assisted by Berto Gittens) with less than 14 minutes to go in the game.
• Leading 40-39, Dakota State made three straight baskets to fuel a 7-0 run for the biggest lead of the game at 47-39 with 9:52 left after Jordan Lynn's basket.
• DSU maintained their lead between three- and seven-points midway through the second half. 
• Wood hit a second-chance basket to give DSU a 52-45 lead with less than eight minutes to go before NWIA went on a scoring run.
• The Red Raiders went on a 5-0 run to cut the Trojans' lead to 52-50 after a basket by Van Kalsbeek with 4:43 remaining in the second half.
• Dakota State held Northwestern scoreless in the final 2:50 of the game to secure the victory.  The Trojans scored the final six points of the game to secure the victory, closing with a pair of free-throws by Maxwell Nielson with 33.4 seconds remaining.
• DSU outscored NWIA 31-29 in the second half.  The Trojans were 41.9 percent from the field (12-of-31 field goals) and 2-of-9 from the 3-point arc.  The Red Raiders were 42.3 percent (11-of-26 field goals) and 2-of-13 3-pointers.
• Morales scored a season-high 17 points for Dakota State.  He was 5-of-10 from the 3-point arc in the game.  Latting added 16 points (8-of-12 field goals) and grabbed six rebounds.
• Wood produced a double-double of 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for DSU.  He dished out three assists.  Lynn tallied nine points and eight rebounds.  He contributed three assists.
• Gittens had five points and six rebounds for the Trojans.  Nielson added five rebounds and two assists.
• Van Kalsbeek poured in a game-high 28 points on his 12-of-15 field goals for the Red Raiders.  He posted a double-double with his 11 defensive rebounds. 
• Hilbrands added nine points and three assists for NWIA.  Conner Geddes had eight points, five rebounds, and four assists. 
• Dakota State shot 39.7 percent overall from the field (25-of-63 field goals) compared to Northwestern 42.3 percent (22-of-52 field goals).  The Trojans hit 7-of-24 3-pointers and held the Red Raiders to 4-of-27 3-pointers.
• NWIA converted 6-of-11 free-throw, while DSU was 5-of-11 free-throws.
• The Trojans won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Red Raiders 40-33.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director