February 4, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – (RV) Mayville State (N.D.) used a 26-12 closing run – including eight straight points within a minute midway through the second half – to pull away past Dakota State (S.D.) 82-63 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Saturday at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Comets snapped the Trojans' three-game winning streak and completed the NSAA season series sweep.

Dakota State fell to 11-14 overall record and 5-6 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll, lifted their overall record to 19-5 and maintained their sole possession for first place in the NSAA standings with a 9-2 record.

The Trojans look to bounce back in the winning column as they play their final North Star conference road trip next weekend.  DSU visits Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday at 8:30 p.m. (Central Time)/7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) and Valley City State (N.D.) next Saturday at 5 p.m.  Mayville State returns home next weekend, taking on Viterbo (Wis.) in the battle of the top two teams in the league Friday followed by another contest with Waldorf (Iowa) next Saturday.

(RV) Mayville State (N.D.) 82, Dakota State (S.D.) 63 – FINAL

• Leading 8-6 in the early going, Sebastian Griffin scored four straight points as Mayville State stretched their lead to 12-6.  The Trojans were forced to burn their first timeout of the game with fourteen minutes, forty seconds on the clock.
• Dakota State came out of the timeout by making three straight 3-pointers as part of their 9-2 scoring run for the first lead of the game.  Gavyn Strand ignited the run with back-to-back 3-pointers and capped with another 3-poitner from Chris Morales for DSU 15-14 lead with 12:55 to go in the first half.
• It was closely tight contest for the rest of the first half, with the lead no greater than three points by both teams. 
• The Trojans extended their lead to 30-26 after Ben Hoverson completed a 3-point play with 5:49 to go before halftime.
• Sam Grayson made a basket with less than 50 seconds to go in the first half, giving the Comets a 39-37 halftime edge over the Trojans.
• There were a total of five ties and four lead changes in the first twenty minutes of the game.
• Mayville State shot 54.8 percent from the field in the first half (17-of-31 field goals) compared to Dakota State 44.8 percent (13-of-29 field goals).
• Thomas Gieske hit a pair of free-throws as the Comets' lead grew to 45-39 with 17:55 remaining.
• Dakota State rallied back to tie the game for the sixth time after using an 8-2 run.  Ethan Damerum made a basket, followed by a free-throw by Morales as the Trojans tied the game at 47-47 with 13:52 left.
• Knotted at 49-49, the Comets went on a 5-0 scoring run to grab a 54-49 lead after Colby Dillenbeck's basket with 12:12 remaining.
• Ronnie Latting made a basket inside the paint (assisted by Morales) as the Trojans trimmed their deficit to 54-51 with less than ten minutes to go in the game.
• Mayville State went on an 8-0 scoring run, thanks to their 6-of-6 from the free-throw line within a minute, earning a 62-51 lead with 9:02 left.
• Dakota State could get no closer than eight points at 64-56 after Sam Muller's layup (assisted by Deshawn Kelly) with 6:42 to go.
• The Comets exploded for a 16-2 outburst from six different scorers, ballooning their lead to 80-58 after Gieske's basket with 2:01 remaining.
• Mayville State outscored Dakota State 43-26 in the second half, thanks to their blazing 60.9 percent field goal shooting (14-of-23 field goals) and 14-of-17 free-throws.  DSU was 42.3 percent (11-of-26 field goals) and 2-of-10 free-throws in the final twenty minutes.
• Morales tallied a career-high 18 points for the Trojans.  He also had three assists and three rebounds.  Strand added 11 points.  Hoverson scored 10 points off the bench (4-of-4 field goals).  Latting had seven points.
• Damerum scored six points off the bench for DSU.  He dished out four assists, collected four rebounds, and stole the ball three times.  Muller had five points and four rebounds.  Kelly had four points, four rebounds, and two assists.
• Gieske paced the Comets with a game-high 20 points on his 6-of-10 field goals and 8-of-10 free-throws.  He stole the ball three times.  Griffin and Trent Blackshire each added 11 points.  Dillenbeck scored 10 points off the bench. 
• Jacques Safra had nine points for MSU.  Taine Mitchell pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists.  J Canahuate contributed a game-high eight assists. 
• Mayville State shot a sizzling 57.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-54 field goals) compared to Dakota State 43.6 percent (24-of-55 field goals). 
• MSU converted 16-of-22 from the free-throw line.  DSU struggled at the free-throw line, going 7-of-17 free-throws.
• The Comets outrebounded the Trojans 39-24. 
• Mayville State outscored Dakota State 18-9 in points off turnovers, 48-32 inside the paint, and 40-18 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director

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