January 8, 2022

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) took advantage of going to the free-throw line 31 times and converting 23 free-throws (with 15-of-20 free-throws coming in the second half) as well as hitting 11-of-26 3-pointers, holding off Dakota State's (S.D.) late comeback for an 80-69 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball victory at Scott Gymnasium Saturday evening.  The Trojans were 10-of-11 free-throws and 3-of-13 from the 3-point line.

Both teams are 5-12 overall record after Saturday's contest.  The Blue Hawks is 2-1 record in league play while the Trojans fell to 1-2 record in the North Star.

Dakota State returns home as they play their season-high five-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans open its home stand versus Mayville State (N.D.) in the North Star contest on Friday evening.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Dickinson State (N.D.) 80, Dakota State (S.D.) 69 – FINAL

• The Trojans earned its first lead of the game at 2-0 after Ronnie Latting's basket with nineteen minutes, thirty-two seconds on the clock. 
• DiSU scored the next five points to overtake a 5-2 lead after a 3-pointer by Cobe Begger with 18:33 to go in the first period.
• Leading 9-6, the Blue Hawks hit back-to-back 3-pointers from Ajdin Toskic followed by Aushanti Potts-Woods to increase their lead to 15-6 with 14:42 on the clock.
• Dakota State trimmed the Blue Hawks' lead to 20-16 after Jade Burma's field goal with 10:28 to go before intermission.
• DiSU went on an 11-0 run to widen their lead to 31-16 with 5:35 to go in the first half, highlighted by Beggers' back-to-back 3-pointers during the run.
• Deshawn Kelly hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans trailed 41-26 by halftime.
• Dickinson State shot 13-of-31 from the field (41.9 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game compared to Dakota State 10-of-29 field goals (34.5 percent).  The Blue Hawks hit 7-of-13 from the 3-point arc, while the Trojans missed all four attempts from the 3-point line.
• John Evans drained a 3-pointer as the Blue Hawks stretched to its biggest lead of the game at 51-32 with 17:29 remaining in the game.
• The Trojans used a 6-0 run (four points from Berto Gittens and two points from Maxwell Nielson) to trim DiSU's lead to 51-38 with 15:03 to go.
• Dickinson State maintained their double-digit lead in the second half before Dakota State cut their deficit into single digit.
• Latting hit a pair of baskets to cut the Blue Hawks' lead within nine points with 7:07 left (60-51) and 6:32 remaining (62-53).
• Trailing 75-66, Lamarr Wood completed a 3-point play as Dakota State trailed 75-69 with less than a minute left. 
• DiSU secured the victory by closing the game with a 5-0 run in the final 51 seconds.
• The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 43-39 in the second half.  DaSU was 18-of-37 from the field (48.6 percent) compared to DiSU 10-of-24 field goals (41.7 percent).
• Gittens tied a season-high 24 points for the Trojans.  He was 11-of-24 from the field.  He pulled down four rebounds.  Latting added 10 points and six rebounds.  Chris Morales tallied 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.
• Wood had seven points and five rebounds for Dakota State.  Kelly had six points and four rebounds.  Nielson dished out four assists. 
• Four DiSU players scored in double digits, let by Evans with 16 points (6-of-10 field goals).  Begger added 15 points and collected five rebounds.  Jalon Tinnin pulled down seven rebounds.
• Toskic had 10 points and four rebounds off the bench for the Blue Hawks.  Potts-Woods scored eight points. 
• Dakota State shot 42.4 percent overall from the field (42.4 percent) compared to Dickinson State's 41.8 percent (23-of-55 field goals).
• DiSU outrebounded DaSU 41-38. 
• The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 16-7 in points off turnovers and 13-5 in second chance points. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director