November 23, 2024
BELLEVUE, Neb. – Ozark Christian (Mo.) prevented Dakota State (S.D.) to make their second-half comeback Saturday afternoon, earning an 83-67 victory on the second day of the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The Ambassadors shot 52.5 percent overall from the field compared to the Trojans 41.4 percent.
Dakota State and Ozark Christian split their two games in the preseason tournament, hosted by Bellevue (Neb.). The Trojans are 5-4 overall record, while the Ambassadors remained undefeated this season at 4-0 overall record (played exhibition game on Friday).
DSU returns home as they kick off their six-game home schedule, hosting Trinity Bible (N.D.). The Trojan men's basketball team will be holding their Military Appreciation Night, tipping off at 7 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.
Ozark Christian (Mo.) 83, Dakota State (S.D.) 67 – FINAL
Blaine Salsman hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Ozark Christian a 6-0 lead with eighteen minutes and seventeen minutes on the clock.
The Trojans snapped their scoring drought with a layup from
Aiden Jensen (assisted by
Lane Tietz), trailing 6-2 with 17:28 to go in the first half.
Ethan Slaathaug made a layup as Dakota State cut their deficit to 18-15 with 12:26 to go in the first half. The Ambassadors hit a pair of 3-pointers to balloon their lead to 24-15 with 11:17 to go before halftime. DSU then scored the next five points to cut their deficit to 24-20 with 9:33 left in the first, thanks to a 3-pointer from
Calvin Payne (assisted by
Trelin Barnett).
Ozark Christian earned their first double digit lead of the game at 36-26 after a 3-pointer by Micah Colburn with 3:11 to go before halftime. Erick Dillinger hit a pair of free throws as OCU led 43-31 by halftime.
The Ambassadors shot 17-of-32 from the field (53.1 percent), including 7-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first twenty minutes of the game. The Trojans were held to 40 percent from the field (12-of-30 field goals) and 3-of-15 3-pointers.
Trailing 56-43, Dakota State went on a 7-0 scoring run sparked by a pair of 3-pointers from
Tyler Beckwith and
Rysley Borman followed by a free-throw by
Lukas Morgan. DSU trimmed OCU's lead to 56-50 with 13:19 remaining in the game.
Ozark Christian regained their double-digit lead at 60-50 after a layup by Andre Jolley with 12:25 left.
The Trojans could get no closer than five points at 66-61 with a free-throw from Beckwith at 7:43 on the clock.
The Ambassadors outscored DSU 17-6 in the final 6:11 of the game to secure the victory. OCU outscored DSU 40-36 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
Brayden Pankonen led the Trojans with 16 points on his 6-of-10 field goals, including 3-of-5 3-pointers.
Colby Dillenbeck added 13 points (6-of-10 field goals) and five rebounds. Beckwith scored 12 points off the bench.
Mitchell tallied five points and pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds for Dakota State. Morgan added four rebounds. Tietz dished out a season-high six assists.
Johnson had a game-high 24 points on his 10-of-11 field goals and 3-of-5 free-throws for Ozark Christian. He also had five rebounds and three assists. Salsman added 14 points (4-of-8 3-pointers). Micah Colburn scored 13 points and contributed a game-high seven assists. Dillon Bycroft had 10 points.
Danny Foster scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds for the Ambassadors. He also had four assists. Eric Dillinger had seven points.
Dakota State shot 41.4 percent overall from the field (24-of-58 field goals) compared to Ozark Christian 32-of-61 field goals. The Ambassadors hit nine 3-pointers in 21 tries (42.9 percent) to the Trojans eight 3-pointers in 27 attempts (29. 6 percent).
OCU was 10-of-13 free-throws to DSU 11-of-20 free-throws.
Both teams had 36 rebounds in the game.
The Ambassadors outscored the Trojans 25-14 in points off turnovers and 38-32 inside the paint. DSU outscored OCU 29-14 in bench points.
