December 20, 2022

MADISON, S.D. – NAIA's nationally ranked No. 23 Morningside (Iowa) shot a blazing 59.7 percent from the field Tuesday evening, rolling past Dakota State (S.D.) 102-76 in the men's basketball non-conference contest at DSU Fieldhouse.  Both teams went through 10 lead changes in the first seven-plus minutes before the Mustangs outscored the Trojans 31-15 in the final ten minutes of the first half and cruised to victory.

Dakota State fell to 5-8 overall record.  Morningside lifted their overall record to 11-3.

The Trojans take their Christmas break before resuming action late next week.  DSU closes out their non-conference schedule in the two-day Fairmont Inn by Marriott Classic, hosted by Bellevue (Neb.) at Gordon Lozier Center.  Dakota State plays Northwestern (Iowa) on Thursday, Dec. 29, and Haskell (Kan.) on Friday, Dec. 30.  Both game times are set for 2 p.m. in Bellevue, Neb.

(23) Morningside (Iowa) 102, Dakota State (S.D.) 76 – FINAL

• Ely Dobie made the layup (assisted by Joey Skoff) as Morningside grabbed their first lead of the game (2-0) with nineteen minutes, forty-one seconds on the clock.
• Dakota State answered on the ensuing possession with a 3-pointer from Deshawn Kelly (assisted by Ronnie Latting), leading 3-2 with 19:22 to go in the first half.
• Each team traded leads ten times and tied the game twice in the first seven minutes in a high scoring battle.  Chris Morales made a basket with 14:54 on the clock for DSU 17-16 lead in the first half.
• MC's Trey Power made a free-throw as the game was knotted for the second time at 17-17 with 14:18 left.
• At 34-29, Morningside used an 11-0 outburst to balloon their lead to 45-29 capped by Skoff's layup (assisted by Jack Dotzler) with 5:15 to go before halftime.
• The Mustangs led 54-37 by halftime, thanks to their blazing 54.3 percent from the field (19-of-35 field goals) and hitting 14-of-18 from the free-throw line.  The Trojans were 43.8 percent from the field (14-of-32 field goals) and 5-of-6 free-throws in the first half.
• Morningside maintained control for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  MC outscored DSU 48-39 in the second half, highlighted by 66.7 percent shooting from the field (18-of-27 field goals).  The Trojans were 42.4 percent from the field in the final twenty minutes (14-of-33 field goals).
• Kelly led DSU with 16 points and dished out four assists.  Latting added 15 points on his 7-of-9 field goals.  Morales tallied 11 points and three assists.
• Sam Muller scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds for Dakota State.  He also had three assists.  Ben Hoverson had eight points off the bench.  Jace Kelley had six points.  Manny N'tula had five points and two steals.  Ethan Damerum had four points, four rebounds, and five assists.
• Doble poured in a game-high 26 points on his 10-of-14 field goals and 6-of-8 free-throws for the Mustangs.  He had five rebounds.  Skoff added 19 points and six rebounds.  Aidan Vanderloo scored 17 points off the bench.  Dotzler registered eight points and contributed a game-high nine assists.
• Dakota State shot 43.1 percent overall from the field (28-of-65 field goals).  Morningside was 37-of-62 from the field. 
• DSU hit 9-of-26 3-pointers compared to MC 8-of-19 from the 3-point line. 
• The Mustangs went to the free-throw line 26 times, making 20 free-throws (76.9 percent).  The Trojans hit 11-of-13 free-throws (84.6 percent).
• Morningside outrebounded Dakota State 38-27. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director