February 16, 2023

PHOTO GALLERY - Photos credits by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a 23-11 closing run in the final 8:02 of the game, pulling away past Bellevue (Neb.) in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball regular-season finale Thursday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the final home contest for head coach Gary Garner, who holds the second all-time DSU men's basketball coaching wins with 198 victories, as he prepares for his upcoming retirement after the season is completed.

Dakota State completed its home schedule with a winning record at 7-6, recording the first home court winning record since the 2017-18 season (11-5 record at home).  The Trojans improved to 12-16 overall record and 6-8 record in the league. 

Bellevue fell to 15-12 overall record and 7-7 record in the North Star contests.

The Trojans ended their five-game losing skid in the series meetings with the Bruins.  It was the first time since Dec. 5, 2020, that Dakota State defeated Bellevue (at DSU Fieldhouse).

The DSU men's basketball program honored their six seniors prior to the warm-ups.  Their six seniors were Nolan DePover, Taylor Edwards, Deshawn Kelly, Ronnie Latting, Chris Morales, and Manny N'tula.

Garner was honored prior to the tip-off for his dedication to the Trojan men's basketball program for the past 14 years.  He had took the Trojans to six conference tournament's championship games (including five consecutive appearances from 2012 through 2016 and with the most recent appearance in 2021), and four NAIA national tournament appearances (including the historic run to the Elite Eight round in 2013 with a school record 25 wins).

Dakota State prepares for the 2023 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason tournament as the No. 6 seed.  The Trojans travel to third-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) in the opening round of the postseason.  Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. (Central Time)/7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.

Bellevue stays on the road as the No. 5 seed, visiting No. 4 seed Valley City State (N.D.) in the opening round on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 69, Bellevue (Neb.) 59 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Bellevue battled back and forth in the first half, with the lead no greater than seven points.  Both teams went through four ties and three lead changes in the first twenty minutes.
• Kelly opened the game with a lay-up to give the Trojans a 2-0 lead with 18:54 on the clock.
• DSU stretched their lead to 6-2 after a basket by Sam Muller (assisted by Morales) with 17:28 to go in the first half.
• With DSU leading 10-8, the Bruins went on a 5-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 13-10 after Kennami Maggard's basket with 12:35 on the clock.
• Gavyn Strand answered with a 3-pointer (assisted by Morales) as the Trojans knotted the game at 13-13 with 12:15 left before intermission.
• BU went on another 5-0 scoring run, capped by Vinny Belcaster's 3-pointer for an 18-13 lead with 9:41 to go in the first half.
• Maggard made a basket inside the paint to balloon Bellevue's lead to 28-21 with 3:07 left before halftime.
• The Trojans went on a 6-0 scoring run by three different scorers – Muller, Ethan Damerum, and Kelly – and trimmed the Bruins' lead to 28-27 with less than a minute to go in the first half.
• Justin Motley made a basket on the ensuing possession as BU led 30-27 by halftime.
• Bellevue shot 13-of-26 from the field (50 percent) in the first twenty minutes compared to Dakota State 12-of-28 field goals (42.9 percent).
• Dakota State tied the game at 32-32 after a 3-pointer by Morales (assisted by Muller) with 18:31 remaining.
• Both teams went through five ties and nine lead changes in the first ten-plus minutes of the second-half.
• Trailing 48-46, Morales drained a 3-pointer to spark the Trojans' 11-2 scoring outburst.  Morales scored five points, while Muller added six points during the scoring run and ballooned their lead to 57-48 with less than four minutes left.
• The Bruins could get no closer than seven points on three different occasions, with the last occasion at 61-54 with 2:12 left after Belcaster's basket.
• Dakota State registered its biggest lead of the game at 69-57 after a fast-break dunk by Damerum (assisted by Ethan Slaathaug) with less than 40 seconds to go.
• The Trojans outscored the Bruins 42-29 in the final twenty minutes, thanks to their blazing 62.1 percent from the field (18-of-29 field goals).  Bellevue was held to 40 percent from the field (10-of-25 field goals).
• Latting poured in 18 points on his 7-of-11 field goals for Dakota State.  He also grabbed five rebounds and registered a block.  Muller added 14 points (7-of-10 field goals) and pulled down six rebounds. 
• Morales scored 12 points and dished out six assists for DSU.  Kelly had eight points and three steals.  Damerum had eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.  Slaathaug had four points.
• Belcaster led the Bruins with 18 points on his 8-of-16 field goals.  He added two assists and two steals.  Motely added 10 points (4-of-5 field goals) and five rebounds.
• Maggard scored nine points and pulled down eight rebounds off the bench for BU.  Taylor Pomeroy added seven points.
• Dakota State shot 52.6 percent overall from the field (30-of-57 field goals) compared to Bellevue 45.1 percent (23-of-51 field goals). 
• BU hit 8-of-16 free-throws, while DSU went perfect 6-of-6 free-throws.
• The Trojans outrebounded the Bruins 33-25. 
• Dakota State outscored Bellevue 52-34 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

	Coach Gary Garner Recogntion before retirement
	Coach Gary Garner in his last home game at DSU Fieldhouse (14 years)
	2023 Terry Ryan Distinguished Service Award Recipient Nick Huntimer