November 21, 2022

HASTINGS, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) returned to men's basketball regular-season action Monday evening for the first time since Nov. 8 at Lynn Farrell Arena.  The Trojans could not hand the host team Hastings (Neb.) their first setback of the season, falling short by the score of 74-64.

Dakota State dropped their overall record to 2-3.  Hastings, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, remained undefeated in eight games this season (8-0 overall record).

DSU stays on the road tis weekend, journeying to Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D. to play in the two-day Sam Milanovich Classic against members of the Frontier Conference.  The Trojans kick off the tournament Friday evening versus Rocky Mountain (Mont.) at 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Hastings (Neb.) 74, Dakota State (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Dakota State held Hastings scoreless in the first two-plus minutes of the game.
• Ben Hoverson opened the game with a basket for a 2-0 lead with 19:05 on the clock for the Trojans.
• Chris Morales followed up with a lay-up to extend DSU's lead to 4-0 with 17:58 left in the first
• After Sam Muller made a layup to give Dakota State a 6-2 lead, the Broncos went on to a 13-0 outburst capped by Danilo Matovic's layup for a 15-6 lead with 14:03 to go in the first half.
• Muller made a layup to end DSU's scoring drought with 13:35 to go in the first (DSU trailed 16-8).
• Reggie Thomas made a layup with 11:16 on the clock, giving HC their first double digit lead of the game at 23-12.
• Hastings maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the first half, leading as many as 16 points.
• Morales drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Ethan Damerum) as the Trojans trailed 42-29 by halftime.
• Hastings shot a sizzling 54.8 percent from the field (17-of-31) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  Dakota State was 32.4 percent from the field (12-of-37 field goals in the first half).
• The Trojans started the second half with a 9-2 scoring surge to trim their deficit into single digit.  Muller kicked off the second period with a basket, followed by a 3-pointer from Hoverson. 
• Ronnie Latting added a layup and wrapped up the scoring run with a pair of free-throws by Muller as DSU trailed 44-38 with 16:49 remaining.
• Hastings then went on an 8-0 scoring run to regain their double-digit lead at 52-38 after Thomas' layup with 13:33 on the clock.
• The Broncos maintained their control, recording their biggest lead of the game at 63-44 with 9:26 remaining after Tyrique McMurrin hit a 3-pointer.
• Dakota State went on a late scoring run, closing with a 20-11 run.  Jace Kelley drained a 3-pointer with less than a minute left as the Trojans trailed 72-64.
• DSU outscored HC 35-32 in the final twenty minutes of the game, highlighted by a blazing 59.1 percent from the field (13-of-22 field goals) by the Trojans.  The Broncos shot 43.3 percent in the second half (13-of-30 field goals). 
• Deshawn Kelly scored 13 points off the bench for Dakota State.  He also had two assists and a steal.  Morales added 11 points on his 5-of-8 field goals.  He stole the ball twice.  Muller tallied 10 points and six rebounds.
• Damerum registered eight points, seven rebounds, five assists, and posted a season-high four blocks for DSU.  Latting added six points.  Manny N'tula and Hoverson each had five points.
• Karson Gansebom and Thomas each scored 21 points on a combined 16-of-34 field goals for Hastings.  Thomas pulled down seven rebounds, dished out seven assists, and stole the ball three times.
• McMurrin added 16 points off the bench on his 7-olf-12 field goals.  He also collected eight rebounds.  Matovic scored eight points.
• Dakota State shot 42.4 percent overall from the field (25-of-59 field goals).  Hastings was 49.2 percent from the field (30-of-61 field goals).  Both teams shot 5-of-20 from the 3-point arc.
• The Broncos outrebounded the Trojans 43-24 in the game, including 14-5 on the offensive boards.  HC outscored DS 18-2 in second chance points.
• Hastings outscored Dakota State 50-34 inside the paint.  The Trojans outscored the Broncos 27-16 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director