December 30, 2022

BELLEVUE, Neb. – After Trey Gaines missed a free-throw on the back side of the 1-and-1 bonus situation with 10.1 seconds remaining for Haskell (Kan.), Dakota State (S.D.) regained possession as Sam Muller hit a game-winning basket at the buzzer for a 55-54 victory Friday afternoon.  It was both teams' first meeting in series history on the second day of the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Classic at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, hosted by Bellevue (Neb.).

Dakota State closed out the 2022 calendar year by snapping their three-game losing skid, improving their overall record to 6-9.  The Trojans finished the tournament with a 1-1 record.  Haskell, a member of the Continental Athletic Conference (independent team), fell to 4-12 overall record after going 0-2 record in the tournament (lost to host-team Bellevue 69-63 on Dec. 29).

The Trojans return home as they prepare for a busy North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State rings in the new year of 2023 next Friday versus Valley City State (N.D.) at 7:30 p.m. and next Saturday versus Dickinson State (N.D.) at 5 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 55, Haskell (Kan.) 54 – FINAL

• Haskell kept Dakota State scoreless for nearly first five minutes of the game, jumping to a 7-0 lead with 15:21 on the clock.
• Manny N'tula ended the Trojans' scoring drought with a layup, trailing 7-2 with 15:01 to go in the first half.
• Trailing 11-4, Ronnie Latting ignited DSU's 5-0 scoring run after completing a three-point play followed by Ethan Slaathaug's jump shot.  The Trojans trimmed the Fighting Indians' lead to 11-9 with 10:16 left before halftime. 
• Latting made back-to-back layups as Dakota State registered the first tie of the game at 17-17 with less than seven minutes to go in the first half.
• DSU earned its first lead of the game at 23-21 with 4:31 on the clock after Ethan Damerum made a basket.
• Haskell closed the first half with an 11-4 scoring run, grabbing a 32-27 lead after Bansi King drained a 3-pointer.
• The Fighting Indians shot 42.9 percent from the field (12-of-28 field goals) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans were 39.3 percent (11-of-28 field goals).
• Haskell kicked off the second half with an 8-2 scoring run for the biggest lead of the game.  King made a basket (assisted by Bryan Strom) as their lead ballooned to 40-29 with 16:50 remaining.
• Trailing 50-40, Dakota State went on a 5-0 run after Jace Kelley's 3-pointer a layup from Taylor Edwards.  DSU trimmed Haskell's lead to 50-45 with 7:40 left.
• The Fighting Indians struggled offensively as the Trojans rallied back within one point at 52-51 with 3:26 remaining as Latting nailed down a layup.
• Haskell ended their scoring drought with a layup from Gaines made a layup for a 54-51 lead with less than a minute and half to go in the game.
• Latting answered on the ensuing possession with a layup as the Trojans trailed 54-53 with 1:17 left.
• After a turnover committed by both teams in the next possessions, Haskell maintained control with less than 30 seconds to go.
• DSU committed three straight fouls to force Haskell to go to the free-throw line for a bonus situation with less than 11 seconds to go.  Gaines missed the back side of the bonus free throw for Haskell as Latting rebounded the ball for DSU's possession with 10.1 seconds to go.
• Muller hit the game-winning basket inside the paint at the buzzer to give the Trojans a thrilling 55-54 victory.
• Dakota State outscored Haskell 28-22 in the final twenty minutes of the game, holding the Fighting Indians to just six points in the final 8:47.
• The Trojans shot 40.7 percent from the field in the second half (11-of-27 field goals) and held Haskell to 38.5 percent (10-of-26 field goals).
• Muller finished the game with a double-double of 13 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for DSU.  He also dished out four assists.  Latting added 16 points, five rebounds, and three blocks.  He was 7-of-10 from the field.
• Slaathaug tallied nine points and four rebounds off the bench for Dakota State.  Chris Morales grabbed five rebounds.  Deshawn Kelly had four points and six rebounds.  N'tula scored four points. 
• King led the Fighting Indians with 18 points on his 7-of-14 field goals.  He added four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.  Tate' Bear and Masen Spoonhunter each added eight points and five rebounds.
• Ira Blackbear registered six points and three steals for Haskell.  Gaines scored six points and stole the ball four times off the bench.
• Dakota State shot 40 percent overall from the field (22-of-55 field goals) compared to Haskell 40.7 percent (22-of-54 field goals).
• DSU hit 10-of-20 free-throws compared to Haskell 6-of-13 free-throws.
• The Trojans won the rebounding battle, outrebounding the Fighting Indians 48-30.  Dakota State outscored Haskell 17-5 in second chance points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director