December 6, 2022

ELLENDALE, N.D. – Eleven Dakota State (S.D.) men's basketball players led the balanced scoring offense attack Tuesday evening, snapping their two-game losing skid with a 90-66 road non-conference victory over Trinity Bible (N.D.) at Ray Ulmer Fieldhouse.  Seven Trojans scored in double digits in the game.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 4-6.  Trinity Bible fell to 3-7 overall record.

DSU returns home Thursday evening to kick off their three-game home stand.  The Trojans host Manhattan Christian (Kan.) with a 7 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (S.D.) 90, Trinity Bible (N.D.) 66 – FINAL

• Dakota State hit three 3-pointers in the first two minutes, twenty-six seconds of the game to fuel to a 13-5 lead capped by Sam Muller's second 3-pointer of the game (assisted by Chris Morales).
• Leading 33-28, the Trojans held the Lions scoreless for nearly five minutes.  Ethan Slaathaug, Kevin Jones, Jr., Brett Limke, and Manny N'tula took part of DSU's 15-0 scoring surge to balloon their lead to 48-28 with 1:14 to go before halftime.
• Elijah Guerrero made a basket as Trinity Bible trimmed Dakota State's lead to 49-30 by halftime.
• Nine different players scored in the first half for Dakota State, who shot a blazing 60.6 percent (20-of-33 field goals) including 7-of-17 from the 3-point arc.  TBC was held to 13-of-33 field goals (39.4 percent) in the first half.
• Jones scored six points during DSU's 8-0 second half opening run to widen their lead to 57-30 with 18:14 left.
• N'tula drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Jones) to give Dakota State its biggest lead of the game at 62-34 with 16:34 remaining.
• The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game to secure the victory.  The Lions could get no closer than 15 points at 71-56 after Austin Molan's basket with 9:21 to go.
• DSU outscored TBC 41-36 in the final twenty minutes of the game, thanks to 10 different Trojans scored in the second half.
• Jones and Muller each led Dakota State with 12 points each.  Jones had four rebounds and three assists.  Muller collected five rebounds and two assists.
• Brett Limke (season-high) and Slaathaug (career-high) each added 11 points off the bench.  Ben Hoverson (season-high) and Ronnie Latting each added 10 points and a block.  N'tula tallied 10 points. 
• Latting pulled down eight rebounds and stole the ball twice for DSU.  Morales, N'tula, Taylor Edwards, Hoverson, and Slaathaug each collected four rebounds.
• Molan poured in a game-high 21 points on his 10-of-16 field goals and earned six rebounds for Trinity Bible.  Khalil Bolden added 17 points and dished out nine assists.  He had four steals.  Marcellus Menacirni had 10 points.
• Dakota State shot 37-of-74 from the field (50 percent) compared to Trinity Bible 29-of-64 field goals (45.3 percent).  The Trojans hit a season-high 12 3-pointers in 33 tries (36.4 percent) and held the Lions to 3-of-21 from the 3-poin arc (14.3 percent).
• DSU outrebounded TBC 40-24, including 12-4 on the offensive rebounds.  The Trojans outscored the Lions 16-4 in second chance points. 
• Dakota State outscored Trinity Bible 41-9 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director