Trojans roar past DWU in 2nd half

MITCHELL, S.D. - Trailing 24-21 at halftime Wednesday evening at the Corn Palace, Dakota State outscored their long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan 52-34 in the second-half to record a 73-53 road victory.  The Trojans won their third straight meeting over the Tigers (including the last two road games at DWU).

Dakota State, which received votes for the fifth straight appearance in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national poll, recorded their fourth victory in the last five games to raise their overall record to 13-5.  DWU dropped their third straight game to dip their overall record to 9-12.

It was the first time that Dakota State had swept the Tigers in the same season for many years (DSU defeated DWU 68-64 on Nov. 10, 2012 in Madison, S.D.)

DSU quickly earn a 9-0 lead in the first two minutes and five seconds of the game.  John Lamb nailed down two straight 3-pointers in the first 1:37 of the game (DSU 6-0 lead).

The Tigers answered back with an 11-2 run to tie the game at 11-11 with less than 13 minutes before intermission.

DWU grabbed a 24-21 halftime lead.

Both teams struggled from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans shot 9-for-30 from the field (30 percent) compared to DWU 24.2 percent (8-for-33).  DSU was 1-for-7 at the free-throw line (14.3 percent), while DWU made six free-throws in 10 attempts (60 percent).

The Trojans kicked off the second-half with another 9-0 run to regain their lead at 30-24 with 16:31 remaining.

DWU trimmed DSU’s lead to 33-32 with less than 15 minutes left in the game with an 8-3 run.

At 37-36 with 12:44 remaining in the game, DSU stormed with a 26-5 scoring run to earn the biggest lead of the game at 63-41 with 5:03 left.

The Tigers could get no closer than 15 points on two occasions (71-53 with 1:29 left and 73-58 at the end of the game).

Dakota State shot a blistering 70.4 percent from the field (19-for-27) in the second-half compared to DWU 39.3 percent (11-for-28).  The Trojans were 7-for-10 behind the 3-point line in the last twenty minutes of the game (DWU 2-for-11 – 18.2 percent). 

John Lamb scored his season-high of 28 points for the Trojans.  He was 10-for-18 from the field, including 6-for-13 from the 3-point arc.  He recorded five steals and pulled down five rebounds.  Gordon, Jr. and Luke Lamb each added 13 points.   Cameron Krump had nine points.

Luke Lamb pulled down nine rebounds for Dakota State.  Marcus Smith added seven rebounds.  Gordon, Jr. produced seven assists. 

Jalen Voss had a double-double of 12 points and earned 15 rebounds for DWU.  Kris Menning added 19 points and eight rebounds.  Luke Bamberg had seven rebounds.  Mike Lee dished out four assists.

Dakota State shot 49.1 percent from the field (28-for-57) compared to DWU 31.1 percent (19-for-61).  The Trojans were 9-for-23 from the 3-point line (39.1 percent), while the Tigers were 4-for-20 (20 percent).

DWU went to the free-throw line 21 times, converting 16 free-throws (76.2 percent).  DSU was 8-for-18 at the free-throw line (44.4 percent).

The Tigers outrebounded the Trojans 43-39.

Dakota State plays in the Dakota Tip-off Classic this weekend in Jamestown, N.D. where four former Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) members meet.  The Trojans play Jamestown (N.D.) on Saturday night.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Civic Center.