January 21, 2023

FOREST CITY, Iowa – Waldorf (Iowa) took advantage by going 19-of-25 free-throws and 14-of-30 3-pointers compared to Dakota State (S.D.) 6-of-7 free-throws and 9-of-20 3-pointers Saturday evening, earning an 89-79 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball victory at Hanson Fieldhouse. 

Dakota State is 8-13 overall record, while Waldorf improved to 6-13 overall record.  Both teams wrapped up their first half portion of the league schedule with a 2-5 record.

Both teams meet again Friday evening in a rare back-to-back North Star Athletic Association contest.  The Trojans begin their four-game North Star home stand with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse.

Waldorf (Iowa) 89, Dakota State (S.D.) 79 – FINAL

• Sam Muller ignited Dakota State's opening scoring run with a 3-pointer followed by a layup.  Ronnie Latting capped the scoring run with a layup (assisted by Muller) to earn a 7-0 lead with 17 minutes, 56 seconds on the clock.
• Waldorf answered back by scoring the next seven points, tying the game at 7-7 after Noah Miller's 3-pointer with 15:45 to go in the first half.
• Tied at 12-12, the Warriors went on a 9-2 run to earn a 21-14 lead after Fredery Cuello's 's 3-pointer with 7:14 left before halftime.
• Deshawn Kelly scored the next four points as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 21-18 with 6:07 on the clock in the first half.
• After Chris Morales' 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 33-29, the Warriors closed the first half with an 8-0 scoring run.  Khalil Grayson and Cuello drained a 3-pointer as Waldorf led 41-29 by halftime.
• WU shot 51.7 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (15-of-29 field goals), including 10-of-20 from the 3-point line.  DSU was 44.4 percent from the field (12-of-27 field goals) and 4-of-8 3-pointers.
• Leading 43-34, the Warriors scored seven straight points to balloon their lead to 50-34 and forced the Trojans to burn a timeout with 16:09 remaining.
• Waldorf produced the biggest lead of the game at 54-36 with 15:17 left after Zach Meyer's free-throw.
• Dakota State then went on an 11-0 scoring tear, capped by Joshua Holloway's 3-pointer to cut WU's lead to 54-47 with 11:35 on the clock.
• The Warriors maintained their lead for the rest of the game to secure the victory. 
• DSU could get no closer than six points at 75-69 after Gavyn Strand's basket with less than three minutes remaining.
• Dakota State poured in 50 points in the second half, while Waldorf scored 48 points.  The Trojans were 20-of-41 from the field (48.8 percent).  The Warriors were held to 39.4 percent (13-of-33 field goals) and hit 18-of-22 from the free-throw line. 
• Four Trojan players scored in double dight, paced by Latting with 17 points on his 8-of-12 field goals.  He nearly recorded a double-double as he pulled down nine rebounds.  Morales added 13 points and two assists.
• Muller tallied 11 points and seven rebounds for Dakota State.  Holloway added 10 points and four rebounds.  Strand had eight points.  Ben Hoverson scored seven points off the bench.  Ethan Damerum had seven rebounds, four points, and four assists. 
• Khyle Washington had a game-high 26 points and produced a double-double of 10 assists for Waldorf.  He was 9-of-12 from the field and 6-of-9 from the free-throw line.  Miller added 22 points, including a perfect 11-of-11 from the free-throw line. 
• Tyree'on Johnson produced a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for WU.  He contributed four assists, two blocks, and three steals.  Cuello scored 12 points off the bench.  Meyer had seven points and six rebounds.
• Dakota State shot 47.1 percent overall from the field (32-of-68 field goals) compared to Waldorf 45.2 percent (28-of-62 field goals).
• The Trojans outrebounded the Warriors 35-27. 
• DSU outscored WU 38-28 inside the paint, 21-9 in second chance points, and 24-19 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director