February 3, 2023

PHOTO GALLERY - photos credit by Cody Welu

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State shot 50 percent overall from the field Friday evening, rolling to their third straight North Star Athletic Association men's basketball home victory with an 80-64 win over Presentation (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The contest was also part of the fourth annual Ag Ball contest by the DSU Athletics department, by showing appreciation and thank you to all local ag producers and businesses.

Dakota State improved to 11-13 overall record and evened their North Star conference record to 5-5 after winning their third straight game for the first time this season.  The Trojans earned their fourth win in the last five home North Star contests at DSU Fieldhouse.  Presentation fell to 5-17 overall record and 0-10 NSAA conference record after dropping their 12th straight contest.

DSU completed its NSAA season series sweep of PC, recording their seventh win in the last eight meetings in the series meeting.  Friday's contest was potentially the final series meeting between the Trojans and the Saints (PC announced its campus closure after this academic year).

Dakota State concludes their season-high four-game North Star Athletic Association home stand Saturday evening, hosting the league's leader Mayville State (N.D.).  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.  Presentation stays on the road, looking to snap their losing skid with another NSAA contest at Bellevue (Neb.).  The game is set for 5 p.m. at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

Dakota State (S.D.) 80, Presentation (S.D.) 64 – FINAL

• Presentation grabbed the first lead of the game at 2-0 after Jackson Becker's basket (assisted by Jeremiah Gilyard) with nineteen minutes, twenty-one seconds on the clock.
• The Saints' lead was short-lived as Dakota State went on a 5-0 scoring run capped by a 3-pointer from Sam Muller (assisted by Chris Morales) for a 5-2 lead with 18:11 in the first half.
• Leading 22-15, Ben Hoverson ignited the Trojans' 7-0 scoring run with a layup (assisted by Ethan Damerum) followed by five points from Muller.  A lay-up by Muller gave the Trojans a 29-15 lead with 7:07 to go before halftime.
• Dakota State maintained their double digit lead for the rest of the first half, closing with a 3-pointer by Morales for a 45-31 halftime lead.
• The Trojans shot a blazing 54.3 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (19-of-35 field goals), including 6-of-12 from the 3-point line.  The Saints were 44.4 percent from the field (12-of-27 field goals) and 2-of-7 3-pointers.
• Morales drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Gavyn Strand) as DSU's lead grew to 53-37 with 14:38 remaining.
• Travez Nyx scored eight straight points to fuel Presentation's 8-1 scoring run, trimming their deficit to single digit at 54-45 and forced the Trojans to burn a timeout with 12:01 left.
• The Saints could no closer than nine point at one other occasion at 58-49 with 10:24 remaining after a pair of free-throws by Jeremiah Gilyard.
• The Trojans then went on a 13-4 scoring tear to produce the biggest lead of the game at 71-53 after a 3-point play by Morales with 6:08 left.
• DSU also posted its biggest lead of the game at 73-55 with 4:16 after a layup by Brett Limke (assisted by Damerum) with 4:16 on the clock.
• DSU secured the victory as they outscored PC 35-33 in the second half.
• The Trojans shot 44.8 percent in the final twenty minutes (13-of-29 field goals) compared to the Saints 41.9 percent (13-of-31 field goals).
• Muller poured in a season-high 28 points for Dakota State.  He was 12-of-19 from the field.  He added five rebounds.  Morales tied for his career-high of 17 points on his 6-of-10 field goals, including 4-of-7 from the 3-point line.  He also tied his career-high six assists. 
• Ronnie Latting tallied 12 points and five rebounds for the Trojans.  Deshawn Kelly recorded eight points and tied a career-high of 10 rebounds.  Strand had six points and three assists.
• Damerum posted season-highs of nine assists and five blocks for DSU.  He also stole the ball twice and grabbed six rebounds.  Hoverson scored four points off the bench.
• Nyx led the Saints with 16 points on his 8-of-14 field goals.  Gilyard added 15 points and four assists.  Becker tallied eight points and six rebounds.  Ontario Champman had five points and seven rebounds.
• Dakota State shot 32-of-64 from the field compared to Presentation 43.1 percent (25-of-58 field goals).  The Trojans hit 8-of-20 3-pointers, while the Saints were 4-of-19 from the 3-point arc.
• PC converted 10-of-14 free-throws (71.4 percent).  DSU was 8-of-15 from the free-throw line (53.3 percent). 
• The Trojans had a slim rebounding edge, outrebounding the Saints 37-35.
• Dakota State produced a season-high 24 assists in the game.  Presentation had 10 assists.
• DSU outscored PC 15-8 in points off turnovers and 46-32 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

2022 North Star Athletic Association Softball All-Conference