December 8, 2022

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) established their first winning streak of the season Thursday evening, kicking off their three-game home stand with a 68-61 non-conference victory over Manhattan Christian (Kan.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans also earned their first win over the Thunder in their third all-time series meeting.

Dakota State improved their overall record to 5-6.  Manhattan Christian fell to 5-4 overall record. 

The Trojans are off until Saturday, Dec. 17 as they continue their home stand.  DSU hosts Midland (Neb.) for their second meeting this season.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State (S.D.) 68, Manhattan Christian (Kan.) 61 – FINAL

• Dakota State opened the game with a 5-0 lead, capped by a 3-pointer by Brett Limke (assisted by Ronnie Latting) with eighteen minutes and twenty-six seconds on the clock.
• Manhattan Christian answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 5-5 after Garrett Harmison's basket inside the paint (assisted by Jackson Nicodemus) with 16:51 to go in the first half.
• DSU answered with another five-point lead after Taylor Edwards' layup (assisted by Sam Muller) with 14:21 on the clock.  MCC then answered with a 5-0 run after a 3-point play by Deyelan Reed for 13-13 tie with 13:15 left in the first half.
• Ethan Slaathaug capped another DSU's 5-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer for an 18-13 lead with 11:06 remaining before halftime.
• The Thunder went on a 7-0 scoring run to earn their first lead of the game at 20-18 with 9:04 to go in the first half.
• With the seventh tie of the game at 29-29, Slaathaug and Jace Kelley hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by Latting's basket to spark an 8-0 scoring run.  DSU grabbed a 37-29 lead with less than two minutes to go.
• At 39-32 favored by the Trojans, Taymont Lindsey closed the first half by making three free-throws with less than 10 seconds to go as MCC trimmed DSU's lead to 39-35 by halftime.
• DSU shot 48.4 percent from the field (15-of-31 field goals) in the first twenty minutes of the game.  MCC shot 43.3 percent in the first half (13-of-30 field goals). 
• Muller scored four points as part of DSU's 6-0 opening run in the second half, propelling to their first double digit lead at 45-35 with 16:43 remaining.
• The Thunder snapped their four-plus minutes scoring drought with a basket by Ferdinand Handy (DSU led 45-37).
• Manhattan Christian could get no closer than five points at 50-45 with 10:49 left after Jamie Juncal's basket (assisted by Jaxon Hurla).
• Slaathaug capped DSU's 8-1 scoring run after completing a 3-point play for the biggest lead of the game at 58-46 with 8:39 remaining.
• The Thunder trimmed the Trojans' lead down to six points on several occasions.  Leading 64-58, Dakota State made the next two baskets (by Latting and Muller) to regain their double-digit lead at 68-58 with 2:08 left.
• DSU outscored MCC 29-26 in the second half.  The Trojans shot 40.6 percent in the final twenty minutes (13-of-32 field goals) and held the Thunder to 23.3 percent (7-of-30 field goals).
• Latting poured in a career-high 21 points on his 9-of-12 field goals for Dakota State.  He grabbed eight rebounds.  Muller produced a double-double of 14 points and collected a season-high 14 rebounds.  He also dished out a season-high six assists.
• Slaathaug tallied a season-high 12 points off the bench for the Trojans.  Kelley added eight points (season-high) and three rebounds.  Edwards scored six points and collected three rebounds.
• Chris Morales contributed a career-high six assists for DSU.  Latting and Manny N'tula each recorded a blocked shot.  Limke and Morales each recorded two steals.
• Reed led the Thunder with 14 points and seven rebounds.  He stole the ball three times.  Handy added 12 points.  Lindsey scored 11 points and registered four rebounds. 
• Jordan White had six points and six rebounds off the bench for Manhattan Christian.  Alex Sturtz had two blocked shots.
• Dakota State shot 44.4 percent overall from the field (28-of-63 field goals) and held Manhattan Christian to 33.3 percent (20-of-60 field goals).  Both teams hit six 3-pointers.
• The Thunder was 15-of-17 from the free-throw line (88.2 percent).  The Trojans struggled at the free-throw line by going 6-of-13 (46.2 percent).
• DSU outrebounded MCC 41-38. 
• Dakota State outscored Manhattan Christian 42-24 inside the paint and 26-19 in bench points.

2022 North Star Athletic Association Football All-Conference recipients

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director