November 12, 2022

VERMILLION, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) was leading for most of the first half in the men's basketball exhibition contest at NCAA Division I South Dakota Saturday evening at Sanford Coyote Sports Center.  The Trojans led as many as nine points in the first half and grabbed a one-point halftime lead but could not overcome Coyotes' second-half offensive outburst for an 82-64 setback.

Dakota State remains at 2-2 overall record.  South Dakota improved to 2-1 overall record.

The Trojans play their second exhibition game of the season Thursday evening, visiting NCAA Division II Sioux Falls (S.D.).  The exhibition contest tips off at 7 p.m. at Stewart Center in Sioux Falls.

South Dakota 82, Dakota State (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Both teams struggled from the field in the first two minutes of the game.  South Dakota grabbed the first lead of the game after a back-to-back 3-pointer from Kruz Perrott-Hunt and Tasos Kamateros for a 6-0 lead with 17:28 on the clock.
• Dakota State would answer with eight straight points from three different scorers – Chris Morales, Sam Muller, and Ethan Damerun – to earn an 8-6 lead with less than 14 minutes to go in the first half.
• The Trojans ballooned their lead to 18-11 after Muller's basket with 9:56 on the clock in the first half.
• A steal by Kevin Jones, Jr. paved the way for the Trojans to grab a nine-point lead at 24-15 as Deshawn Kelly hit a lay-up with 6:52 to go before intermission.
• With DSU leading 28-22, the Coyotes trimmed their deficit down to one point as AJ Plitzuweit drained a 3-pointer with 3:03 to go in the first half.
• Plitzuweit hit a free-throw as USD regained their lead at 31-30 with less than 10 seconds to go in the first.  Kelly followed up with a basket when the first half ended, giving DSU a 32-31 halftime edge.
• Dakota State shot 38.9 percent in the first half, hitting 14-of-36 field goals.  South Dakota was held to 34.5 percent from the field (10-of-29 field goals) in the first twenty minutes.
• Morales drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans earned a 35-34 lead with 18:44 remaining in the game.
• USD answered with a 5-0 scoring run to take a 39-34 lead with less than 18 minutes to go after a 3-pointer by Perrott-Hunt.
• The Coyotes maintained their single digit lead for the next seven minutes before stretching the lead into double digits.
• At 50-46, South Dakota went on a 9-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 59-46 after a pair of free throws by Jeremiah Coleman.
• USD led as many as 19 points at 70-51 when Paul Bruns completed a 3-point play with 6:48 left.
• Dakota State could get no closer than 11 points after a 13-5 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Kelly.  DSU trailed 75-64 with 3:22 remaining.
• USD closed the game with a 7-0 run in the final 1:49 of the game.
• South Dakota outscored Dakota State 51-32 in the final twenty minutes.  USD was 19-of-34 from the field (55.9 percent) compared to DSU 13-of-29 field goals (44.8 percent).
• Kelly poured in 25 points on his 10-of-15 field goals, including 3-of-6 from the 3-point line off the bench for Dakota State.  Muller added a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  He was 9-of-16 from the field.  Muller dished out four assists.
• Morales added eight points and three steals for DSU.  Damerun had four points and four rebounds. 
• Four USD players scored in double digits, led by Plitzuweit with 16 points.  Bruns added 16 points off the bench on his 7-of-13 field goals.  Perrott-Hunt scored 15 points.  Kamateros tallied 11 points and eight rebounds.  Damani Hayes had seven rounds. 
• Perrott-Hunt and Mason Archambalt each dished out three assists for USD. 
• The Coyotes shot 46 percent overall from the field (29-of-63 field goals) and 9-of-23 from the 3-point line.  The Trojans were 41.5 percent (27-of-65 field goals) and 6-of-17 from the 3-point arc.
• Both teams scored 13 points on second chance points and 18 points off turnovers.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director