January 14, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) exploded for 50 second-half points to roll past Mayville State (N.D.) 87-60 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Comets held the lead briefly for first two-and-half minutes of the game and it was all Trojans for the rest of the game.

The Trojans recorded its first home victory over the Comets since Feb. 27, 2016, in the NSAA men's basketball postseason tournament's semifinal contest DSU Fieldhouse.  DSU earned its second straight win in the series meeting with MSU (defeated Comets 67-66 in last year's league tournament semifinal game in Mayville, N.D.).

Dakota State improved its overall record to 6-12 and 2-2 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State dropped their overall record to 9-6 and 1-3 NSAA record.

The Trojans continue its season-long five-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse Saturday, hosting Presentation (S.D.) in the third annual Ag Ball festivities.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

Mayville State heads to Gordon Lozier Center Saturday evening for another NSAA contest versus Bellevue (Neb.).  The game is set for 6 p.m. in Bellevue, Neb.

Dakota State (S.D.) 87, Mayville State (N.D.) 60 – FINAL

• After a scoreless game in the first minute, Latrelle Franklin drained a 3-pointer to give Mayville State its first lead at 3-0 with 18:47 on the clock.
• The Trojans scored its first points of the game after Lamarr Woods' basket (assisted by Maxwell Nielson) with 18:29 to go in the first half.
• Trailing 5-4, DSU went on a 5-0 run to grab a 9-5 lead after Berto Gittens' field goal with 16 minutes to go before intermission.
• Mayville State could get no closer than one point after a 3-point play by Sam Grayson with 15:47 left in the first half (DSU led 9-8).
• Dakota State went on an 11-2 outburst, capped a pair of free-throws by Jordan Lynn for the first double digit of the game at 20-10 with 10:44 on the clock in the first.
• The Trojans maintained control for rest of the first half, holding lead between six- and 10-points.
• Ronnie Latting made a basket inside the paint to give DSU a 35-27 halftime advantage.
• Dakota State was 13-of-29 from the field (44.8 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  Mayville State was 10-of-23 field goals (43.5 percent) in the first half.
• With DSU leading 40-32, the Comets went on a 5-0 run to cut the Trojans' lead to 40-37 after a basket by Colby Dillenbeck (assisted by Thomas Gieske).  DSU was forced to burn their first timeout of the game with 16:02 remaining.
• Leading 49-44, the Trojans held the Comets to one point in a span of five minutes.  DSU sparked a 17-1 outburst to balloon their lead to 66-45 with 7:32 left in the game.
• Nielson drained a 3-pointer with 3:31 left to give Dakota State the biggest lead of the game at 83-55.
• The Trojans outscored the Comets 50-31 in the second half.  DSU was 19-of-40 from the field (47.5 percent) in the final twenty minutes and held MSU to 10-of-31 field goals (32.3 percent).
• Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double digits, including three players with a double-double each.  Jordan Lynn tallied 19 points and tied a career-high 10 rebounds.  He also dished out four assists and stole the ball twice.
• Latting added a double-double of 16 points and collected 11 rebounds (7 offensive rebounds) for DSU.  Nielson added 18 points, five rebounds, and contributed four assists.  Wood had 12 points, four rebounds, and tallied three blocks.
• Gittens hit a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Trojans.  Deshawn Kelly had eight points and three rebounds. 
• John Ketchel scored 13 points off the bench for Mayville State.  Franklin added 12 points and dished out a game-high seven assists.  Dillenbeck had eight points.  Grayson registered three blocks.
• Dakota State shot 46.4 percent overall from the field (32-of-69 field goals) and held Mayville State to 37 percent (20-of-54 field goals).
• The Comets drained 11 3-pointers in 24 tries (45.8 percent).  The Trojans were 7-of-20 from the 3-point arc (35 percent).
• DSU converted 16-of-23 free-throws (69.6 percent) while MSU struggled by going 9-of-19 free-throws (47.4 percent).
• The Trojans won the rebounding battle, pulling down 50 rebounds compared to the Comets 32 rebounds.  Dakota State outrebounded Mayville State 16-7 on the offensive boards.
• DSU outscored MSU 15-6 in points off turnovers, 44-16 inside the paint, and 17-9 in second-chance points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director