January 29, 2022

Photos credit by Karen Giles

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Dakota State (S.D.) continued winning in the North Star Athletic Association action, earning their eighth win in the last ten games Saturday evening with a 72-71 victory over Waldorf (Iowa) at Hanson Fieldhouse.  It was the first victory at the Hanson Fieldhouse since Feb. 3, 2017.  DSU completed its season series sweep WU, their first season series sweep since the 2016-17 season. 

Dakota State lifted their overall record to 11-13, matching its total wins from last season.  The Trojans raised their record to 6-3, moving in a two-way tie for second place in the North Star conference standings with Dickinson State (N.D.) after Saturday's action.  Waldorf recorded their sixth straight defeat, dropping their overall record to 4-18 and 2-7 NSAA conference record.

The Trojans continue its action on the road next weekend.  DSU travels to Strode Center in Aberdeen, S.D. to take on Presentation (S.D.).  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 72, Waldorf (Iowa) 71 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Waldorf went through nine lead changes in the first nine-and-half minutes of the game, with the lead no greater than three points by the Warriors twice (8-5 after Bryanth Farr's dunk and 10-7 after Farr's lay-up).
• Trailing 18-16, Jordan Lynn erupted for 11 straight points including three 3-pointers to give Dakota State a 27-18 advantage with 8:39 to go in the first half.
• The Warriors trimmed their deficit down to 29-26 after a 3-pointer by Jacob Daing with 7:10 on the clock.
• The Trojans answered with a 6-0 spurt to widen their lead to 35-26, capped by a basket by Lamarr Wood with 5:24 to go before intermission.
• Ethan Slaathaug drained a 3-pointer to give DSU its largest lead of the game at 40-28 with 3:05 remaining in the first half.
• WU went on an 8-0 run to trim DSU's lead to 40-36 after Quincy Minor, Jr.'s layup with less than 45 seconds to go in the first.
• Maxwell Nielson nailed down a pair of free-throws as the Trojans led 42-36 by halftime. 
• Dakota State shot 17-of-36 field goals in the first twenty minutes (47.2 percent) and hit 6-of-16 3-pointers.  Waldorf was 17-of-34 from the field (50 percent) and 1-of-7 from the 3-point arc.
• The Warriors started the second half with a 7-0 run to regain their lead at 43-42 after Lorenzo Smith's basket with 18:22 on the clock.
• Both teams battled back-and-forth, trading leads for 13 minutes with the lead no greater than four points by DSU (49-45 with 16:06 left after a 3-point play by Wood).
• Down 65-64, Nielson fueled the Trojans' 6-0 run by draining a 3-pointer followed by Chris Morales' layup and Lynn's free-throw for 70-65 lead with 2:52 left.
• Waldorf was held scoreless for four-plus minutes before ending the drought with a free-throw by Minor with less a minute to go, trailing 70-66.
• Wood hit a pair of free-throws to extend DSU's lead to 72-66 with less than 20 seconds left.
• Smith made a layup with 10 seconds to go as the Warriors trailed 72-68.
• DSU couldn't convert a pair of free-throws to extend the lead on the next possession.  Smith closed the game for the Warriors with a 3-pointer to complete the final score, securing the victory for the Trojans.
• WU outscored DSU 35-30 in the second half.  Dakota State was 11-of-27 from the field (40.7 percent) in the final twenty minutes of the game.  Waldorf was held to 31.4 percent from the field (11-of-35 field goals) and hit 11-of-13 free-throws in the second half.
• A total of 19 lead changes and seven ties were recorded in the game.
• Wood led the Trojans with 20 points on his 8-of-13 field goals and 4-of-6 free-throws.  He grabbed seven rebounds.  Lynn added 19 points (7-of-15 field goals, including 4-of-8 3-pointers).  He stole the ball five times.
• Berto Gittens scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds for Dakota State.  Nielson had eight points.  Morales produced three assists. 
• Four Waldorf players scored in double digits, led by Farr with 18 points on his 8-of-15 field goals.  Tyree'on Johnson recorded a double-double of 15 points and collected a game-high 19 rebounds.  Smith added 14 points.  Minor s cored 11 points and registered seven rebounds.  Chett Helming had eight points and three steals.
• Dakota State shot 28-of-63 overall from the field (44.4 percent) and hit 9-of-24 3-pointers (37.5 percent).  Waldorf was 28-of-68 from the field (41.2 percent) and 3-of-16 3-pointers.
• WU hit 12-of-17 free-throws (70.6 percent).  DSU was 7-of-13 from the free-throw line (53.8 percent).
• The Warriors outrebounded the Trojans 39-26 (15-7 on the offensive boards). 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director