February 23, 2021

La CROSSE, Wis. – Fifth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) hit season-highs in points, field goal percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, and 3-point field goals made in upsetting fourth-seeded Viterbo (Wis.) 95-88 high-scoring North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason tournament Tuesday evening at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium.

Dakota State improved to 2-0 record against the V-Hawks in the opening round of the NSAA postseason tournament, both on V-Hawks' home court (ironically on the same day four seasons ago).  The Trojans improved their overall record to 10-14, their first double-dight victories since 2017-18 season.

It was the highest points scored against the North Star Athletic Association member on the road since 90 points at Waldorf (Iowa) on Feb. 3, 2017.

Viterbo ended their season at 11-8 overall record.

The Trojans move on to the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball semifinal round for the first time since 2016-17 season.  Dakota State stays on the road as they visit the top-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) – who defeated No. 8 seed Presentation (S.D.) 94-45 – Thursday evening.  Tip-off from the Lewy Lee Fieldhouse is set for 7 p.m. in Mayville, N.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) 95, Viterbo (Wis.) 88 – FINAL

• Jack Monis opened the game with a 3-point play to give Viterbo its first lead at 3-0 with nineteen minutes and thirty seconds on the clock.  It was the only lead the V-Hawks held in the game.
• Dakota State went on a 12-3 scoring outburst to grab a 12-5 lead with 17:09 on the clock, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointer by Jordan Lynn.
• A 3-pointer by Noah Fredrickson helped the V-Hawks cut the Trojans' lead to 12-10 with 15:44 to go in the first half before the Trojans went on another scoring outburst.
• Holding a 15-12 lead, DSU went on a 9-2 scoring run capped by Gavin Schipper's 3-pointer for the first double digit lead of the game at 24-14 with 10:44 left before halftime.
• Viterbo used 9-3 run to trim Dakota State's lead to 27-23 after a field goal by Monis with 7:47 to go in the first half.
• Leading 36-30, the Trojans used a quick 5-0 run to regain the double-digit lead with a 3-pointer by Schipper for 41-30 lead with 1:23 on the clock.
• Brady Van Holland drained a 3-pointer to give Dakota State a 46-35 halftime lead over Viterbo.
• The Trojans shot a blazing 62.5 percent from the field, making 15 baskets in 24 attempts in the first twenty minutes of the game.  DSU hit 9-of-14 from the 3-point arc.  The V-Hawks were 44.8 percent from the field (13-of-29 field goals) and 3-of-12 3-pointers in the first half.
• Dakota State maintained their lead between six- and nine-points for the first five minutes of the second half.  Schipper hit a 3-pointer to give DSU a 59-48 lead with 14:51 remaining.
• Monis made a basket as VU trimmed their deficit into single-digit at 59-50 with 14:28 on the clock.
• The Trojans drained three 3-pointers (2 by Schipper and 1 by Lynn) to spark an 11-4 run, widening their lead to 70-54 after a 3-pointer by Schipper with less than 11 minutes to go.
• Viterbo then went on to score 11 straight points, kicking off with three consecutive 3-pointers (2 by Robert Cunitz and 1 by Nicholas Malovrh) followed by a basket by Monis.  DSU was forced to call a timeout with 8:52 left, holding a 70-65 lead.
• Up 78-69, the Trojans used a strong 10-1 outburst to grab their biggest lead of the game.  Gairges Daow made a basket to give DSU an 88-70 lead with 4:02 remaining.
• Viterbo mounted a furious 14-1 comeback run to cut DSU's lead down to five points.  Fredrickson made 2-of-3 free-throws to trim Trojans' lead to 89-84 with less than 15 seconds left.
• Lamarr Wood converted a pair of free-throws to extend DSU's lead to 91-84.  Cunitz answered back with a lay-up with less than 10 seconds left as the V-Hawks trailed 91-86.
• VU committed a foul on DSU on the next possession, sending Daow to the free-throw line.  He made both free-throws to widen the Trojans' lead to 93-86. 
• Fredrickson quickly answered with a layup as the V-Hawks trailed 93-88.  VU then fouled on the ensuing possession, sending Daow to the free-throw line for the second straight possession.
• The Trojans secured the victory as Daow converted both free-throws for 95-88 lead.
• Viterbo outscored Dakota State 53-49 in the final twenty minutes.  The Trojans shot a sizzling 63 percent from the field (32-of-51 field goals) and 7-of-12 3-pointers in the second half.  The V-Hawks were 59.4 percent from the field (19-of-32 field goals) and made 6-of-15 3-pointers.
• Four DSU players hit double figures, paced by Lynn with 22 points.  He was 7-of-13 from the field and made 5-of-10 3-pointers.  He also had four assists and stole the ball three times.
• Schipper scored a career-high 21 points for Dakota State.  He was 7-of-9 from the field, including 7-of-8 from the 3-point arc (career-high in 3-point field goals).  He pulled down five rebounds.
• Daow tallied 18 points and six rebounds for the Trojans.  He contributed four assists.  Gare Ewefada added 17 points and three assists.  Wood scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.
• Frederickson poured in a game-high 25 points for Viterbo.  He was 8-of-13 from the field, 5-of-9 from the 3-point line and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line.  Monis added 22 points (9-of-16 field goals), collected four rebounds and stole the ball twice.
• Cunitz scored 20 points for the V-Hawks.  He was 8-of-13 from the field.  He had five rebounds and three steals.  Brady Polk registered four rebounds and four assists.
• Dakota State shot 32-of-51 from the field (62.7 percent) and drained 16 3-pointers in 26 attempts (61.5 percent).  Viterbo was 32-of-61 field goals (52.5 percent) and 9-of-27 from the 3-point line (33.3 percent).
• Both teams hit 15-of-22 from the free-throw line (68.2 percent) and recorded five steals.
• The Trojans outrebounded the V-Hawks 28-24. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director