DSU Men off to fast start

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State scored its first six points in a men's basketball game Tuesday night versus Presentation (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans never trailed in the game as DSU continues their best start in more than 20 years with a 77-58 victory over the Saints.

Dakota State won their fourth straight regular-season game to raise their record to 5-1.  The Trojans also won their third straight home game.  Presentation was playing their first regular-season game this year.

DSU went 3-for-4 from the field in the first two minutes and 20 seconds of the game to earn a 6-0 lead.  The Saints missed its first six shots in that span.

The Trojans extended their lead to 11 points at 17-6 with 12:25 left in the first-half.

PC used a 17-8 run to trim DSU's lead to 25-23 with 5:17 remaining before intermission. 

Dakota State closed the first-half with a 33-28 halftime lead.  DSU shot 42.9 percent from the field (12-for-28) in the first-half while the Saints shot 34.4 percent from the field (11-for-32).

The Trojans made five consecutive baskets to open the second-half to widen their lead at 44-32 with 16:56 remaining in the game (DSU 11-4 run).

DSU maintained their double-digits lead through the rest of the game.  The Saints could get no closer than nine points at 66-57 with 1:29 left in the game.

Dakota State outscored Presentation 44-30 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Four Trojan players recorded in double digits.  Luke Lamb poured in 20 points on his 8-for-14 shooting from the field, including 4-for-7 from the 3-point line.  Marcus Smith scored 15 points off the bench.  He was 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 from the 3-point line and 4-for-5 at the free-throw line.  Yusuf Vinson added 13 points.  Terrell Newton had 12 points off the bench.

Vinson and Luke Lamb each pulled down nine rebounds for DSU.  Keith Lee II and Newton each produced six assists.  John Lamb added five assists.  Vinson stole the ball three times.

Darrell Farr had a double-double of 21 points and earned 10 rebounds for the Saints.  He recorded three steals.  Quincy Davis added nine points.  Chaz Haymond and Anthony Hendricks each had four assists. 

The Trojans shot 47.4 percent overall from the field (27-for-57) compared to PC's 37.9 percent (22-for-58).  DSU drained eight 3-pointers in 21 attempts (38.1 percent), while the Saints had four 3-pointers in 12 attempts (33.3 percent).

DSU converted 15 free-throws in 20 attempts (75 percent).  Presentation was 10-for-17 at the free-throw line (58.8 percent).

The Trojans outscored the Saints 32-24 inside the paint and 28-22 in bench points.

Dakota State plays an exhibition game on Saturday evening at the Stewart Center.  The Trojans visit the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) – member of NCAA Division II and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) – with a tip-off starting at 6 p.m.