January 21, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was red-hot from the field, missing just eight shots in the first twenty minutes of the game to storm to a 44-23 halftime lead over Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans shot a season-high 59.7 percent from the field, rolling to their fourth straight victory by the score of 80-63 over the Warriors.  DSU poured in 68 points inside the paint to propel to their sixth win in the last seven games.

Dakota State also won their fifth straight home game since Dec. 29 versus Northwestern (Iowa), holding its opponents to 63 points or less in the last five home games.  The Trojans improved their overall record to 9-13 and 4-2 NSAA conference record (currently in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings). Waldorf dropped their overall record to 4-15 and 2-4 record in the league.

The Trojans wrap up their first half portion of the NSAA conference schedule Saturday evening, concluding their season-high five-game home stand versus Viterbo (Wis.).  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Warriors head to Gordon Lozier Center for the NSAA match-up with Bellevue (Neb.) at 5 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Waldorf (Iowa) 63 – FINAL

• Both teams struggled offensively in the opening minute of the game.  The Trojans grabbed its first lead of the game at 2-0 after a lay-up by Chris Morales with eighteen minutes, fourteen seconds on the clock.
• The Trojans led wire to wire, as the Warriors could get no closer than one point early in the game.  Lorenzo Smith hit a free-throw for the first point of the game as DSU led 2-1 with 17:35 in the first half.
• After Ronnie Latting's basket for Trojans 4-1 lead, Bryanth Farr answered with a field goal as the Warriors trailed 4-3 with 16:55 to go ion the first.
• Leading 12-6, Dakota State scored four points inside the paint (Latting and Morales) to register the first double-digit lead of the game at 16-6 with 11:54 on the clock in the first half.
• At 22-17, the Trojans stormed with a 22-6 outburst in the final 6:41 of the first half.  DSU ballooned their lead to 44-23 after a basket by Deshawn Kelly.
• DSU shot 21-of-29 from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (72.4 percent) and held WU to 34.5 percent (10-of-29 field goals).
• Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, leading as many as 23 points after a basket by Lamarr Wood with 19:40 remaining (DSU led 46-23).
• Smith made a field goal inside the paint as the Warriors trim the Trojans' lead down to 56-45 with 11:39 left.
• DSU regained their biggest lead of the game at 76-53 after a 3-pointer by Jordan Lynn with 4:17 remaining and a basket by Kelly for 78-55 lead with 3:07 left.
• WU outscored DSU 40-36 in the second half.  The Trojans were 48.5 percent from the field (16-of-33 field goals) in the final twenty minutes, while the Warriors were 42.9 percent (12-of-28 field goals).
• Latting led Dakota State with a game-high 19 points on his 9-of-13 field goals.  He pulled down six rebounds.  Kelly tallied 14 points off the bench.  He also had six rebounds and four assists.
• Morales scored 13 points (6-of-10 field goals) for DSU.  Wood tallied 12 points.  Berto Gittens scored 10 points, dished out six assists, and stole the ball three times off the bench.
• Lynn contributed a game-high seven assists for the Trojans.  He also pulled down nine rebounds.
• Jacob Daing led the Warriors with 15 points and eight rebounds.  Farr added 13 points and three assists.
• Smith scored 11 points for WU.  Quincy Minor, Jr. scored nine points and earned four rebounds.
• Dakota State shot 37-of-62 from the field compared to Waldorf 22-of-57 field goals (38.6 percent).  WU was 13-of-18 from the free-throw line (72.2 percent), while DSU was 4-of-5 free-throws (80 percent).
• The Trojans outrebounded the Warriors 35-29 in the game.
• DSU outscored WU 29-10 in bench points.

Game Day Sponsor Prostrollo Auto Mall

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director