January 28, 2023

Photos credit by Donald Weidler

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) avenged its heartbreaking defeat last Friday at Viterbo (Wis.), holding on to an 80-76 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball victory at DSU Fieldhouse Saturday evening.  The Trojans completed its weekend sweep, earning their second straight victory where they did not trail in the forty minutes basketball game.

Dakota State and Viterbo split their season series meeting, with the V-Hawks rallying back in the closing seconds for a 61-60 nailbiter victory at R.W. Beggs Gymnasium on Jan. 20 in La Crosse, Wis.  It was the first home win for DSU over VU at DSU Fieldhouse since Feb. 3, 2018, a streak of four games.

The Trojans reached double-digit victories for the 12th time in head coach Gary Garner's 14-year at helm, improving their overall record to 10-13.  DSU is 4-5 NSAA conference record.  Viterbo dropped to 12-10 overall record and 6-3 league record after suffering its second straight setback.

Dakota State continues their season-long four-game North Star home stand Friday evening, hosting Presentation (S.D.) in the annual Ag Ball contest.  Tip-off from the DSU Fieldhouse is set for 7:30 p.m.  DSU also hosts Mayville State (N.D.) next Saturday (Feb. 4) at 5 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Viterbo (Wis.) 76 – FINAL

• Dakota State opened with a quick 4-0 lead with eighteen minutes and thirteen seconds on the clock, thanks to Chris Morales' layup (assisted by Gavyn Strand) followed by a pair of free-throws by Deshawn Kelly.
• The Trojans' lead grew to 9-2 after a 3-point play by Sam Muller with 15:53 on the clock.
• Jack Monis scored the next five points as Viterbo cut DSU's lead to 9-7 with 15 minutes to go in the first half.
• Dakota State held the V-Hawks scoreless in the next four minutes, sparking a 12-0 scoring run.  A steal by Kelly followed by a layup to give DSU its biggest lead of the game at 21-7 with 11:11 to go before halftime.
• Cole Crubel scored five straight points followed by Colin Adams' three points to spark VU's 9-0 scoring run, trimming DSU's lead to 21-16 with 9:05 left in the first half.
• Muller capped Trojans' 9-2 scoring run with a basket (assisted by Kelly), regaining their double digit lead at 30-18 with less than seven minutes to go before intermission.
• Leading 34-30, Dakota State closed the first half with a 3-pointer from Joshua Holloway and Ethan Slaathaug.  DSU led 40-30 by halftime.
• DSU shot 50 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (16-of-32 field goals) and held VU to 38.5 percent (10-of-26 field goals).
• Dakota State regained its biggest lead of the game at 44-30 after a 3-pointer from Morales with 18:41 remaining.  He also hit another 3-pointer for DSU's 49-35 lead with 17:06 on the clock (assisted by Muller). 
• The V-Hawks trimmed their deficit into single digit at 49-41 after a basket by Ben Olson, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout with 15:38 left.
• DSU came out of the timeout with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Muller (assisted by Ethan Damerum) for a 55-41 lead with 14:36 remaining.
• Dakota State maintained their lead between 5- and 14-points for most of the second half before Viterbo made a late run.
• Trailing 73-63, Viterbo went on a 9-2 run to cut DSU's lead to 75-72 after a pair of free-throws by Olson with 56.3 seconds left in the game.
• DSU added a pair of free-throws (Kelly and Ronnie Latting) on two separate possessions, ballooning their lead to 77-72 with 11.3 seconds remaining.
• Viterbo answered with a quick 3-pointer on the ensuing possession from Olson (assisted by Monis), cutting Dakota State's lead to 77-75 with 6.9 seconds left.
• The V-Hawks committed a foul on the next possession, sending Morales to the free-throw line for DSU.  He missed the first free-throw attempt and made their second free-throw attempt for Trojans 78-75 lead with four seconds left.
• Dakota State quickly committed on the next possession.  Dakota Mannel made the first free-throw attempt as the V-Hawks trailed 78-76 with 2.1 seconds remaining.
• Mannel missed the second free-throw attempt as DSU's Ben Hoverson rebounded the ball for possession.  VU committed a foul with 1.5 seconds to go.
• Hoverson nailed down both free-throws to secure victory for Dakota State.
• Viterbo outscored Dakota State 46-40 in the second half.  The V-Hawks shot 51.6 percent (16-of-31 field goals) compared to the Trojans 48.1 percent (13-of-27 field goals) in the final twenty minutes.
• Muller scored the game-high 25 points on his 11-of-15 field goals for Dakota State.  He pulled down eight rebounds and stole the ball twice.  Morales added 16 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
• Latting and Kelly each scored 13 points for DSU.  Latting had nine rebounds and registered five blocks.  Kelly contributed five assists.  Damerum had three assists and two steals.  Brett Limke earned three assists. 
• Olson paced the V-Hawks with 24 points and nine rebounds.  He was 9-of-17 from the field.  Robert Cunitz added 16 points and eight rebounds.  Monis scored 13 points and collected five rebounds.
• Crubel scored 10 points and earned four rebounds off the bench for VU.  Luke Spink had seven points and five assists.
• Dakota State shot 49.2 percent overall from the field (29-of-59 field goals) compared to Viterbo 45.6 percent (26-of-57 field goals).  The Trojans drained eight 3-pointers in 21 attempts, while the V-Hawks were 5-of-14 3-pointers.
• Viterbo converted 19-of-30 free-throws (63.3 percent).  Dakota State was 14-of-24 from the free-throw line (58.3 percent).
• VU outrebounded DSU 40-33. 
• The Trojans outscored the V-Hawks 12-2 in fastbreak points, 24-10 in points off turnovers, 40-36 inside the paint, and 15-14 in second chance points.

Game Day Sponsor Lauriebelles

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director