November 2, 2023

NEW ULM, Minn. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a 37-23 second half scoring surge to earn their first victory of the 2023-24 men's basketball season Thursday evening over NCAA Division III Martin Luther at Luther Student Center Gymnasium.  The Trojans earned their third straight victory in the series meeting with the Knights.

Head coach Darren Tighe their first win as Trojan men's basketball coach, improving to 1-3 overall record.  Martin Luther, a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), was playing their exhibition contest.

Dakota State plays their home opener with a pair of games with Providence (Manitoba) at DSU Fieldhouse this weekend.  They will play their first game on Saturday evening at 8 p.m., followed by their second game on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 77, Martin Luther (Minn.) 65 – FINAL

Ethan Slaathaug made a fast-break lay-up (assisted by Brayden Pankonen) for Trojans' first lead of the game at 2-0 with nineteen minutes and twenty-two seconds on the clock.  MLU scored the next seven points from three different scorers – Seth Veers, Ethan Kjenstad, and Nathan Miller – for a 7-2 lead with 17:48 on the clock in the first half.

Dakota State then went on a 13-2 outburst to regain their lead, capped by a layup by Slaathaug (assisted by Josh Lewis) for a 15-9 lead with 14:20 to go in the first.

Leading 19-15, Isaac Sumption started DSU's 12-2 scoring run with a 3-pointer and capped with a 3-pointer by Kenny Haynes for a 32-17 lead with 7:26 on the clock.

The Knights held the Trojans scoreless for the next five-plus minutes, igniting a 21-0 scoring run.  Luke Fix hit a layup to give Martin Luther a 38-32 lead, forcing the Trojans to burn a timeout with 2:23 remaining before halftime.

Pankonen ended DSU's scoring drought with 3-pointer (assisted by Japjit Gill), trailing 38-35 with 2:03 left in the first half.  Gill ended the first half with a jump set, trimming MLC's lead to 42-40.

Dakota State was 15-of-32 from the field (46.9 percent) and 6-of-17 from the 3-point arc in the first twenty minutes of the game.  Martin Luther shot a blazing 58.1 percent from the field (18-of-31 field goals) and 2-of-7 from the 3-point arc in the first half.

DSU and MLC traded leads or tied the game through the first five minutes of the second half.  Knotted at 54-54, the Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring run to earn a 61-54 lead after a pair of free-throws by Haynes.

Dakota State would maintain their lead between five- and nine-points throughout the second half.  The Trojans regained their double dight lead with 2:08 left after a 3-pointer by Mison Coilton (assisted by Gill) for a 72-62 lead.

The Knights could get closer than seven points with 1:48 left in the game (72-65).  DSU secured the victory by scoring the final five points of the game.

DSU was 32.1 percent from the field (9-of-28 field goals) and converted 15-of-22 free-throws in the final twenty minutes of the game.  MLU was held to 30.3 percent from the field in the second half (10-of-33 field goals) and 1-of-1 at the free-throw line.

The game featured eight lead changes and five ties.

Four Dakota State started scored in double digits, sparked by Emmanuel Akpan with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.  He was 6-of-10 from the field and dished out three assists.  Pankonen added 14 points.  He stole the ball a season-high five times.  Coilton tallied 13 points and six rebounds.  Gill scored 12 points and contributed six assists.

Slaathaug had nine points and four rebounds for DSU.  Haynes had eight points. 

Kjenstad poured in 30 points on his 12-of-24 field goals and 4-of-4 at the free-throw line for Martin Luther.  He had five rebounds.  Miller added 12 points and four assists.  Veers had six points and four assists.  Paul Fricke pulled down seven rebounds.

Dakota State shot 40 percent overall from the field (24-of-60 field goals) and 10-of-30 from the 3-point line.  Martin Luther was 43.8 percent (28-of-64 field goals) and 4-of-16 3-pointers.

DSU was 19-of-28 at the free-throw line (67.9 percent) compared to MLC 5-of-5 free-throws. 

The Knights had a slim rebounding advantage over the Trojans (34-33). 

Dakota State outscored Martin Luther 23-4 in fast-break points.