November 28, 2023
YANKTON, S.D. – Dakota State's (S.D.) nine-game winning streak came to a halt Wednesday evening, falling to in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) 77-69 in a non-conference men's basketball contest at Cimpl Arena. The Trojans were playing back-to-back games (defeated Trinity Bible, N.D., 82-56 on Tuesday evening).
Dakota State fell to 9-4 overall record. Mount Marty improved to 2-5 overall record.
The Trojans stay on the road Saturday evening at NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.). Tip-off from the Athletic Center in St. Bonifacius, Minn., is set for 6 p.m.
Mount Marty (S.D.) 77, Dakota State (S.D.) 69 – FINAL
After trading 3-pointers to kick off the game (Tash Lunday by the Lancers and
Uzo Dibiamaka by the Trojans – assisted by
Japjit Gill), Mount Marty went on a 12-2 scoring tear to open a 15-5 lead after a basket by Jared Lopez. Dakota State was forced to call a timeout with thirteen minutes, twenty-two seconds on the clock in the first half.
The Trojans answered with an 8-2 scoring surge, capped by a layup by
Mison Coilton. DSU trimmed MMU's lead to 17-13 with 10:12 to go in the first half.
Mount Marty then scored seven straight points to regain their lead to 24-13 with less than seven minutes to go.
Dakota State would cut Mount Marty's lead to 27-22 after a pair of free-throws from Emmanuel Apkan with 3:14 to go before halftime. The Lancers then scored six straight points to balloon their lead to 33-22 with 2:11 on the clock after Jared Lopez's layup.
MMU led 37-27 by halftime, thanks to their 46.4 percent field goal shooting (13-of-28 field goals). DSU was 33.3 percent from the field (11-of-33 field goals) in the first half.
The Lancers maintained their lead between five- and ten-points for the first seven-plus minutes of the second half.
Kenny Haynes drained a 3-pointer (assisted by
Josh Lewis) as the Trojans trailed 46-42 with 12:54 remaining.
Coilton hit a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 54-49 with 10:22 left. The Lancers went on an 11-2 outburst to earn the biggest lead of the game at 65-51 with less than five minutes to go.
Dakota State could get no closer than eight points for the rest of the game as Lewis made a layup for the final possession of the game, securing the victory for Mount Marty.
DSU outscored MMU 42-40 in the second half, despite Lancers' 51.7 percent from the field (15-of-29 field goals). The Trojans were 41 percent from the field in the final twenty minutes (16-of-39 field goals).
Coilton led Dakota State with 18 points and five rebounds. He was 8-of-17 from the field. Haynes added 14 points off the bench. Akpan tallied 13 points (6-of-8 free-throws) and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. He dished out three assists. Lewis scored eight points. Gill had four points and five rebounds.
Dibiamaka tallied five points and four rebounds for DSU. Gill and
Brayden Pankonen each stole the ball twice. Dibiamaka and
Uhana Ochan each registered two blocked shots.
Lunday poured in a game-high 26 points on his 10-of-20 field goals for Mount Marty. He added nine rebounds. Cole Bown scored 20 points (10-of-11 free-throws) and produced a double-double with 10 rebounds. He also had four blocks, three assists, and two steals.
Lopez had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Lancers. Aiden Jensen had eight points and five rebounds. Caden Casey scored seven points off the bench. Jake Jensen collected six rebounds. Johnson contributed five assists.
Mount Marty shot 49.1 percent overall from the field (28-of-57 field goals) compared to Dakota State 37.5 percent (27-of-72 field goals). The Trojans were 6-of-27 3-pointers, while the Lancers were 4-of-17 3-pointers.
MMU converted 17-of-25 free-throws compared to DSU 9-of-14 free-throws.
The Lancers outrebounded the Trojans 42-30.
