February 18, 2021

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their lead late in the game in the key North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Thursday evening, falling to Bellevue (Neb.) 73-62 at Gordon Lozier Center.  The Bruins outscored the Trojans 20-10 in the final 6:52 of the game to secure the victory, as well as No. 2 seed for the upcoming NSAA postseason tournament next week.

Dakota State closed out their regular-season schedule with an overall record of 9-13 and 7-7 in league play.  The Trojans had secured the No. 5 seed for the postseason tournament.

Bellevue improved to 17-13 overall record and 9-5 record in North Star conference play.  Both teams split their season series, with each team winning on its own home court.  The Bruins host No. 7 seed Waldorf (Iowa) in the opening round of the NSAA postseason tournament on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

Dakota State awaits to hear on which opponent they will play on the road in the opening round on Tuesday evening.  The Trojans will play either Viterbo (Wis.) or Valley City State (N.D.), depending on the outcome of VCSU at Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday evening.

Bellevue (Neb.) 73, Dakota State (S.D.) 62 – FINAL

• The first half of the game featured a total of four ties and three lead changes between DSU and BU, with the lead no greater than seven points by the Trojans.
• Trailing 15-13, the Trojans went on a 6-0 scoring run.  Lamarr Wood made a basket inside the paints, followed by a field goal and a pair of free-throws by Jordan Lynn to put DSU up 19-15 with 8:41 to go before intermission.
• Dakota State recorded the biggest lead of the first half when Gairges Daow hit a basket for 27-20 lead with 4:21 left in the first.
• Bellevue went on an 8-2 scoring run in the final 2:55 of the first half, capped by a 3-pointer by Matt Blaney to cut DSU's lead to 29-28.
• Both teams shot 40 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (12-of-30 field goals).  The Bruins were 4-of-12 from the 3-point arc, while the Trojans were 1-of-7 3-pointers.  DSU was perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, while BU could not make a free-throw in four attempts.
• A 3-pointer by Daow opened a five-point lead for Dakota State at 35-30 with 18:46 remaining.
• With DSU leading 42-37, the Bruins went on a 5-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by Jaylen Wiltz to tie the game at 42-42 with less than 15 minutes to go in the game.
• Trailing 51-46, the Trojans used a 7-2 run to regain their lead at 53-52 with eight minutes left after Wood's field goal.
• Bellevue held Dakota State scoreless for four-plus minutes, fueling an 8-0 scoring run highlighted by Jemeil King's 3-pointer to earn a 61-53 lead with 3:58 remaining.
• The Trojans could get no closer than six points on two different occasions at 61-55 after a pair of free-throws by Lynn with 3:36 left and a 3-pointer by Gavin Schipper at 64-58 with 3:09 remaining.
• Bellevue secured the game by converting 6-of-6 free-throws in the final 45 seconds of the game.
• The Bruins outscored the Trojans 45-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  BU shot 51.6 percent from the field in the second half (28-of-61) compared to DSU 47.8 percent (11-of-23 field goals).  Bellevue was 6-of-16 from the 3-point line, while Dakota State was 4-of-11 3-pointers.
• Gare Ewefada led the Trojans with 16 points.  He was 6-of-6 from the free-throw line.  Daow added 14 points and three rebounds.  Wood tallied a season-high 15 points off the bench on his 7-of-9 field goals.  He also had four rebounds.
• Lynn scored eight points and collected eight rebounds for DSU.  He dished out four assists.  Schipper had nine points.  Daow, Ewefada, Lynn, Brady Van Holland and Cole Bruhn each had a steal.  Van Holland had five rebounds.
• King poured in a game-high 28 points on his 11-of-16 field goals and 4-of-7 3-pointers for the Bruins.  He had three assists and two steals.  Wiltz added 15 points and three assists.  Vaj Rice pulled down eight rebounds and contributed three assists.  Justin Motley had seven points and seven rebounds.
• Bellevue shot 45.9 percent overall from the field (28-of-61 field goals) and 10-of-28 from the 3-point line (35.7 percent).  Dakota State was 43.4 percent from the field (23-of-53 field goals) and 5-of-18 3-pointers (27.8 percent).
• DSU converted 11-of-13 free-throws (84.6 percent).  BU was 7-of-13 from the free-throw line (53.8 percent). 
• The Bruins outrebounded the Trojans 38-30.  Both teams scored 30 points inside the paint.  Dakota State outscored Bellevue 15-13 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director