October 29, 2023

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) used a 27-10 late closing run in the final ten plus minutes to earn an 82-67 victory over Dakota State (S.D.) in the men's basketball action Sunday afternoon at the Corn Palace.  Both teams will be meeting for the second time in two weeks at DSU Fieldhouse.

The Trojans fell to 0-2 overall record.  The Tigers, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, were playing in their season opener.

Dakota State continues their busy non-conference schedule Wednesday evening against another member of the GPAC.  DSU takes on (RV) Dordt (Iowa) at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Please note the game time change to 7 p.m. at the Pentagon (originally scheduled for 7:30 p.m.).

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 82, Dakota State (S.D.) 67 – FINAL

Ethan Slaathaug drained back-to-back 3-pointers to give Dakota State their first lead at 3-0 with eighteen minutes, forty-eight seconds on the clock.  He also ballooned DSU's lead to 6-2 with 17:30 to go in the first half.

After the Trojans held the lead for the first six-plus minutes, Kallan Herman hit a 3-pointer with 13:30 on the clock for DWU's first lead at 10-9.

Dakota State led as many as three points in the next three-and-half minutes, capped by a 3-pointer by Isaac Sumption for 22-19 lead with 9:13 to go in the first half.

The Tigers went on a 12-2 scoring run to earn a 31-24 lead after a 3-pointer from Ethan Determan with 5:08 on the clock.

Trailing 33-26, Dakota State mounted a comeback to close the first half.  Slaathaug sparked DSU's 10-0 scoring run and capped with Mison Coilton's 3-pointer (assisted by Calvin Payne) with less than 25 seconds to go before intermission.

Dakota Wesleyan snapped their scoring drought with a basket by Blaze Lubbers, trimming DSU's lead to 36-35 by halftime. 

A total of five ties and four lead changes were registered in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans were 42.4 percent from the field in the first half (14-of-33 field goals) compared to the Tigers 37.1 percent (13-of-35 field goals).

Samuel Aslesen kicked off the second half with a 3-pointer as DWU regained their lead to 38-36 with 19:40 left.

Japjit Gill hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Trojans overtook the lead at 42-38 with 18 minutes remaining.

DSU maintained their lead for the next six minutes, leading as many as three points.  Jakob Dobney drained a 3-pointer as Dakota Wesleyan led 55-53 with 12:14 left.

The Trojans scored the next four points from Emmanuel Akpan and Taylor Edwards to 57-55 lead with 10:13 on the clock.

Dakota Wesleyan scored the next eight points, capped with a pair of free-throws from Randy Rosenquist, Jr. for a 63-57 lead with 7:15 remaining.

DWU expanded their scoring run to 19-5 run to balloon their lead to 74-60 after a pair of free-throws by Kallan Herman with four minutes to go.

Dakota State could get no closer than 12 points at 75-63 after a 3-pointer from Coiton with 3:42 remaining.

The Tigers outscored the Trojans 47-31 in the second half to secure the victory, thanks to their 51.5 field goal percentage in the final twenty minutes (17-of-33 field goals).  The Trojans were held to 34.3 field goal percentage in the second half (12-of-35 field goals).

Coilton tallied a season-high 18 points off the bench on his 7-of-13 field goals for Dakota State.  He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.  He dished out two assists.  Slaathaug scored a career high 17 points on his 7-of-14 field goals shooting, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point arc.  He also had a career-high seven rebounds.

Gill added nine points, five rebounds, and three assists for DSU.  Edwards, Akpan, and Kenny Haynes each added five points.  Payne grabbed eight rebounds.  Akpan had seven rebounds. 

Five Dakota Wesleyan starters scored in double digits, led by Dobney with 21 points on his 8-of-17 field goals.  He had six rebounds.  Herman added 15 points.  Rosenquist, Jr. scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.  He produced six assists.

Aslesen had 12 points, six rebounds, and five blocked shots for DWU.  Lubbers tallied 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots. 

Dakota Wesleyan shot 44.1 percent overall from the field (30-of-68 field goals) compared to Dakota State 38.2 percent (26-of-68 field goals).  Both teams made 11 3-pointers in the game.

DWU converted 11-of-14 free-throws to DSU 4-of-8 free-throws.

The Trojans outrebounded the Tigers 45-39.  Dakota State outscored Dakota Wesleyan 12-5 on second chance points.

Dakota Wesleyan outscored Dakota State 20-4 in points off turnovers.  The Trojans' bench outscored the Tigers 33-10.