February 13, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) shot a blazing 52.7 percent from the field and drained 10 3-pointers, pulling away late past Dakota State (S.D.) in the key North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Saturday evening at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.  Prior to the game, both teams were 7-5 record in league play.

Dakota State dropped to 9-13 overall record.  Valley City State, who received votes in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, improved to 17-6 overall record.

After Saturday's action in the league, Valley City State moved to a three-way tie with Viterbo (Wis.) and Bellevue (Neb.) with 8-5 record each.  Dakota State is fifth with 7-6 conference record.  Mayville State (N.D.) had secured the regular-season conference title outright after rolling past Waldorf (Iowa).

Dakota State closes out their regular-season schedule on Thursday evening, visiting Bellevue in another battle of NSAA postseason positioning.  Tip-off from the Gordon Lozier Center is set for 7:30 p.m. in Bellevue, Neb.

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) 74, Dakota State (S.D.) 63 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Valley City State went through a closely tight first twenty minutes, with the lead no greater than seven points. 
• After a steal by Lamarr Wood, Gare Ewefada followed up with a basket to give Trojans a 12-8 lead with 12:29 on the clock in the first half.
• VCSU then went on an 11-0 scoring surge to grab the biggest lead of the first half.  Matthew Schlottman capped the scoring run to give Vikings a 19-12 lead with 8:01 left before intermission.
• The Trojans trimmed the Vikings' lead down to one point on two different occasions in the first half – 28-27 after a pair of free throws by Wood with 2:53 left and 30-29 after a basket by Ronnie Latting with 1:16 on the clock.
• Kevin Schramm drained a 3-pointer as Valley City State stretched its lead to 33-29 by halftime.
• VCSU shot 51.9 percent from the field (14-of-27 field goals) in the first half compared to DSU 34.5 percent (10-of-29 field goals).
• The Vikings maintained their lead between two- and six-points for the first four-plus minutes of the second half.  Gairges Daow made a field goal (assisted by Ewefada) as the Trojans knotted the game at 41-41 with 15:42 remaining.
• Daow added a basket as the Trojans regained their lead to 44-43 with 14:28 left.
• Tied at 46-46, Valley City State went on an 11-2 scoring surge to balloon their lead to 57-48 after a field goal by Jalen Addison with 9:43 left.
• Dakota State could get no closer than five points at 57-52 (Ewefada's basket with 8:32 left) as the Vikings pulled away late. 
• VCSU went on a 10-0 outburst to register the biggest lead of the game.  Addison drained a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 67-53 lead with 5:32 remaining.
• Valley City State outscored Dakota State 41-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  VCSU shot 53.6 percent from the field (15-of-28 field goals), including 6-of-14 from the 3-point arc.  DSU was 50 percent (15-of-30 field goals) in the second half and 1-of-9 from the 3-point line.
• Four Trojan players hit double figures, led by Ewefada with 17 points on his 8-of-11 field goals.  Latting posted a double-double of 13 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.  Daow scored 12 points.  Gavin Schipper tallied 11 points and five rebounds.
• Jordan Lynn and Wood each had five points and five rebounds for DSU.  Schipper and Cole Bruhn each stole the ball twice.
• Addison and Schramm each scored 13 points for the Vikings.  Addison grabbed nine rebounds.  Matthew Schlottman had 12 points off the bench.  Entzi had 11 points.
• Eddie Oyet had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench for VCSU.  Joshua Kelly had four assists.  Daevonte Munson stole the ball four times.
• Valley City State was 29-of-55 from the field, including 10-of-26 from the 3-point line (38.5 percent).  Dakota State shot 42.4 percent overall (25-of-59 field goals) and 4-of-21 from the 3-point arc (19 percent).
• DSU converted 9-of-15 from the free-throw line, while VCSU was 6-of-12 free-throws.
• Dakota State outrebounded Valley City State 34-32.  The Trojans outscored the Vikings 7-2 in second chance points.
• VCSU outscored DSU 20-12 in points off turnovers and 28-5 in bench points.  The Trojans outscored the Vikings 41-35 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director