November 26, 2022

Photo provided by Dickinson State (N.D.) Sports Information

DICKINSON, N.D. – Five Dakota State (S.D.) players hit double digits in scoring Saturday evening, rolling past Montana Western of the Frontier Conference 82-68 on the second day of the Sam Milanovich Classic hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.) at Scott Gymnasium.  The Trojans shot a blazing 54.4 percent from the field and held the Bulldogs to just six 2-point field goals in the game.

Dakota State ended its two-game losing skid to improve their overall record to 3-4.  Montana Western, who is coached by former Trojan men's basketball athlete and assistant coach under head coach Gary Garner, fell to 5-5 overall record.

It was the first ever all-time meeting between DSU and UMW.

Dakota State wraps up the month of November on Wednesday evening as they return home for the first time since Oct. 29.  The Trojans take on rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in a non-conference tilt with a 7 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (S.D.) 82, Montana Western 68 – FINAL

• Montana Western kicked off the game with a pair of 3-pointers from Christian Pitcher and Jamal Stephenson, racking to a 6-0 lead with seventeen minutes and thirty-one seconds on the clock.
• Dakota State snapped its scoring drought as Manny N'tula scored the next three points, followed by a basket by Deshawn Kelly (assisted by Ethan Damerum) to cut UMW's lead to 6-5 with 16:17 to go in the first half.
• Trailing 11-5, the Trojans ignited an 8-0 run after Kelly hit back-to-back baskets (including a 3-pointer followed by a basket).  Chris Morales capped the scoring run with back-to-back field goals to give DSU their first lead of the game at 13-11 with 11:48 left before halftime.
• Both teams battled back and forth before Montana Western stretched their lead to 28-23 after a 3-pointer by Ky Kouba with 4:02 remaining in the first.
• Kelly, Ronnie Latting, and Jace Kelley took part in another DSU's 8-0 scoring run to regain their lead to 31-28 with 2:25 remaining.
• The fifth tie of the game was recorded at 33-33 with less than 50 seconds remaining after a pair of free-throws by Tanner Haverfield.
• A total of five ties and seven lead changes were recorded in the first twenty minutes of the game.  DSU shot 51.9 percent from the field (14-of-27 field goals) compared to UMW 42.3 percent (11-of-26 field goals). 
• The Bulldogs hit 8-of-20 from the 3-point arc in the first half and were 3-of-6 2-point field goals.
• Morales drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Sam Muller) for the sixth tie of the game at 36-36 with 19:10 left for Dakota State.
• DSU went on a 19-4 monstrous scoring run, capped by Morales' basket for the biggest lead of the game at 55-40.  Montana Western was forced to burn a timeout with 10:59 remaining.
• With the Trojans lead 59-46, Montana Western went on an 8-0 scoring run capped by six points from Brenton Woods including 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.  The Bulldogs trimmed DS's lead to 59-54 with 6:50 left in the game.
• Dakota State answered with a 9-0 outburst in the next minute-and-half span to balloon their lead to 68-54 with 5:22 to go after N'tula drained back-to-back 3-pointers.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the read of the game to secure the victory.  The Bulldogs could get no closer than 11 points. 
• DSU outscored UMW 49-35 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  Dakota State shot 56.7 percent in the second half (17-of-30 field goals), including 8-of-14 from the 3-point line.
• Montana Western was held to 30.4 percent field goal shooting in the second half (7-of-23 field goals).  The Bulldogs were 4-of-15 from the 3-point arc and 3-of-12 from the 2-point field goal area.
• Kelley shot 10-of-13 from the field and hit 2-of-3 free-throws to pour in a game-high 24 points for the Trojans.  He also grabbed four rebounds and stole the ball twice. 
• N'tula tallied 18 points (tied season high) on his 6-of-8 field goals for the Trojans.  He was 5-of-6 from the 3-point arc and pulled down six rebounds.
• Morales scored a season-high 13 points for DSU.  He dished out four assists and registered three steals.  Muller added 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. 
• Latting had 11 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Dakota State.  He also had two blocked shots.  Kelley had four points and two steals.  Damerum recorded five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
• Kouba led the Bulldogs with 15 points on his 5-of-10 3-point field goals.  He had four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.  Woods added 13 points, four assists, and two steals.
• Stephenson had nine points for UMW.  Jacob Ankeny added seven points and four rebounds.
• Haverfield registered eight points and grabbed four rebounds off the bench for Montana Western.
• Dakota State shot 31-of-57 overall from the field (54.4 percent) and 9-of-16 from the 3-point arc (56.3 percent).  Montana Western was held to 36.7 percent from the field (18-of-49 field goals).  The Bulldogs were 12-of-35 from the 3-point line and 6-of-14 from the 2-point field goals. 
• UMW hit 20-of-28 free-throws, with 17-of-24 free-throws coming in the second half.  DSU was 11-of-18 from the free-throw line (61.1 percent). 
• Dakota State outrebounded Montana Western 40-24. 
• The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 40-12 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director