February 11, 2023

VALLEY CITY, N.D. – Valley City State (N.D.) poured in 50 points in the first twenty minutes, rolling to a 93-74 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball victory over Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday evening at W. E. Osmon Fieldhouse.  The victory also earned the NSAA season series split between the Vikings and the Trojans.

Dakota State fell to 11-16 overall record and 5-8 NSAA conference record.  The Trojans had wrapped up the No. 6 seed for the upcoming conference postseason tournament, which is set to start with the opening round on Tuesday, Feb. 21 with opponent to be announced after the regular-season finale on Thursday.  Valley City State earned their fifth win in the last six NSAA contests, improving to 15-12 overall record and 8-5 NSAA conference record.  The Vikings are tied for third in the conference standings with Dickinson State, where both teams will play each other in the regular-season finale Thursday in Dickinson, N.D.

Dakota State closes out their home schedule on Thursday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, hosting their NSAA's traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.).  Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. in head coach Gary Garner's final home contest at DSU.  Seniors night will be held before the start of the men's basketball warm-ups.

Valley City State (N.D.) 93, Dakota State (S.D.) 74 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Valley City State went through two ties and three lead changes in the first three minutes of the game.
• Sam Muller hit a basket (assisted by Gavyn Strand) with 18:39 on the clock to give DSU a 4-3 lead.
• VCSU regained their lead at 7-4 after a 3-pointer from Daevonte Munson (assisted by Cayden Rickard) with 17:21 to go in the first half.
• Holding a slim 11-10 lead, the Vikings erupted for 11 straight points to balloon their lead.  Joseph Owens stole the ball followed by a layup (assisted by Hunter Sand) for a 22-10 lead, forcing the Trojans to burn a timeout with 11:33 to go before halftime.
• The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a 3-pointer from Chris Morales, trailing 22-13 with 11:14 on the clock.
• Valley City State went on a 24-12 scoring tear, ballooning their lead to 46-25 with 2:42 to go before intermission.
• Ethan Slaathaug hit a pair of free-throws as DSU trailed 48-31 with less than 15 seconds to go in the first half.
• Munson closed the first half with a basket inside the paint as the Vikings widened their lead to 50-32.
• VCSU shot a sizzling 52.9 percent from the field (18-of-34 field goals) and 6-of-17 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes of the game.  DSU was held to 38.2 percent from the field (13-of-34 field goals) and 1-of-8 from the 3-point arc.
• The Vikings maintained control for the rest of the game by holding double-digit leads. 
• Cleveland Bedgood hit a basket with 12:20 remaining for the Vikings' biggest lead of the game at 77-45.
• Trailing 87-63, Dakota State went on an 11-2 scoring run capped by a 3-pointer from Brett Limke (assisted by Joshua Holloway) with 1:38 left (DSU trailed 89-74).
• Valley City State outscored Dakota State 43-42 in the second half.  DSU shot 50 percent (15-of-30 field goals), including 7-of-15 3-pointers.  VCSU shot 46.2 percent from the field (18-of-39 field goals) and 5-of-19 3-pointers.
• Muller paced the Trojans with a game-high 22 points on his 10-of-15 field goals.  He also grabbed six rebounds.  Slaathaug scored a career-high 14 points off the bench.  He was 5-of-10 from the field and hit all four free-throws.  Holloway netted 12 points.
• Deshawn Kelly tallied seven points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals for DSU.  Limke added six points and three assists.  Taylor Edwards had four rebounds. 
• Munson led the Vikings with 20 points on his 8-of-14 field goals.  He pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.  He contributed three assists.  Duoth Gach added 18 points (7-of-10 field goals).  Rickard had 15 points, four assists, and three steals.
• Owens scored eight points off the bench for VCSU.  He stole the ball four times and grabbed four rebounds.  Edmon Paul Oyet had seven points, six rebounds, and three steals.  Tate Hebrink had four assists and three steals.
• Dakota State shot 43.8 percent overall from the field (28-of-64 field goals) compared to Valley City State 49.3 percent (36-of-73 field goals).  The Vikings drained 11 3-pointers in 36 tries, while the Trojans hit 8-of-23 3-pointers.
• DSU converted 10-of-12 free-throws compared to VCSU 10-of-17 free-throws.
• Valley City State outrebounded Dakota State 43-37. 
• The Vikings outscored the Trojans 22-11 in points off turnovers, 58-37 inside the paint, and 28-10 in second chance points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director