USF Improves to 4-0 Following Win Over Dakota State

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Dakota State earned a one-point halftime lead (21-20) Saturday evening in an exhibition game against in-state rival University of Sioux Falls at the Stewart Center.  The Cougars close the game with a 25-11 run to earn a 56-42 victory over the Trojans.

The game was counted as an exhibition game for Dakota State, which currently stays at 5-1 overall record.  University of Sioux Falls, member of the NCAA Division II and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), remained undefeated in four games before heading into NSIC play next weekend.

With the scored tied at 10-10 with less than twelve minutes remaining in the first-half, the Cougars outscored the Trojans 9-1 in a span of nearly seven minutes.  USF led at 19-11 with 5:30 remaining before intermission.

Dakota State closed the first-half with a 10-1 run to gain their first lead of the game at 21-20.

DSU shot 36.8 percent from the field (7-for-19) in the first-half, including 3-for-6 from the 3-point arc.  USF was held to 29.2 percent shooting (7-for-24) and 3-for-9 from the 3- point line in the first twenty minutes of the game.

USF started the second-half by scoring seven straight points to overtake the lead from DSU at 27-21 with 17:16 left.

The Trojans answered back with a 10-4 run to tie the game at 31-31 with 12:09 remaining.

With USF leading at 38-37 with 9:22 left, the Cougars closed the game with a 18-5 scoring spurt.

USF outscored the Trojans 36-21 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Luke Lamb scored 16 points for DSU.  He was 4-for-6 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free-throw line.  He produced three assists.  Cameron Krump added 10 points.  He pulled down five rebounds.  John Lamb had nine points.  Kevin Danielsen had five points off the bench. 

Marcus Smith, John Lamb and Krump each had two steals for the Trojans.  Smith, Yusuf Vinson and Luke Lamb each had a blocked shot.

James Rader and A.J. Holland each had 13 points for USF.  Keaton Moffitt and Robert Goffney each added seven points.  Moffitt and Rader each earned six boards.  Moffitt recorded three steals.

USF shot 39.5 percent overall from the field (17-for-43) compared to the Trojans’ 32.6 percent (15-for-46).  The Cougars were 6-for-18 behind the 3-point line (33.3 percent) while DSU was 5-for-13 from the 3-point arc (38.5 percent).

Both teams struggled at the free-throw line.  USF converted 16 free-throws in 24 attempts (66.7 percent).  DSU was 7-for-13 at the free-throw line (53.8 percent).

Dakota State continues their six-game road stretch on Tuesday night.  The Trojans return back to regular-season play at AIB (Iowa), looking to extend their best start in many years.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the AIB Activities Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Courtesy: Nick Huntimer