Trojans now 14-7 after tough loss to #24 VSCU

MADISON, S.D. – Tied at 48-48 with three minutes and 23 seconds left in the game Thursday night at the DSU Fieldhouse, the nationally-ranked Valley City State (N.D.) closed the game with a 15-6 run to earn a 63-54 Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference win.

Dakota State, which received votes to the latest NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national poll, dropped their overall record to 14-7 and 2-2 A.I.I. conference record.   Valley City State, No. 24 in the national poll, lifted their overall record to 16-5 and 5-2 A.I.I.

The Trojans kicked off the game with a 7-2 lead in the first four minutes and 34 seconds.

With the Vikings leading at 23-17 (8:19 in the first-half), DSU scored six straight points to tie the game at 23-23 with 5:50 remaining before intermission.

At 25-25, VCSU outscored the Trojans 7-2 in the final 3:11 of the first-half to earn a 32-27 halftime lead.

The Vikings shot 46.2 percent from the field (12-for-26) compared to the Trojans’ 36.4 percent (12-for-33) in the first-half.  VCSU drained six 3-pointers in nine attempts (66.7 percent), while DSU was 2-for-10 from the 3-point arc.

Valley City State extended their lead to eight points on two occasions (35-27 with 19:25 remaining and 39-31 with 15:42 left). 

Dakota State went on an 11-3 scoring run to record the fifth tie of the game at 42-42 with 7:55 remaining.

With the game tied at 48-48 with 3:23 remaining, the Vikings scored 10 consecutive points in a span of two minutes to earn a 58-48 lead.

DSU could get no closer than six points on two occasions (59-53 with 49 seconds left and 60-54 with 41 seconds remaining).

Cameron Krump and Tyrone Gordon, Jr. each scored 14 points for the Trojans.  Krump was 6-for-10 from the field.  Luke Lamb added 12 points.  Terrell Newton scored nine points off the bench.

Gordon, Jr. produced eight assists and grabbed five rebounds in the game.  Lamb and Krump each had eight rebounds.  Newton dished out four assists.

Sekani Milligen had 17 points for the Vikings.  Gus Kueber added 13 points.  Dillan Ostrom had 11 points.

Kueber pulled down nine rebounds for VCSU.  John Raquel recorded eight assists.

Valley City State shot 46 percent overall from the field (23-for-50) compared to DSU’s 39 percent (23-for-58).  The Vikings were 8-for-18 from the 3-point line (44.4 perent), while the Trojans were 5-for-20 (25 percent) from the 3-point arc.

VCSU was 9-for-15 from the free-throw line (60 percent).  DSU struggled from the free-throw line, making three free-throws in nine attempts (33.3 percent).

DSU outrebounded the Vikings 38-33.

The Trojans faced their fifth ranked opponent from the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball national poll this season.  DSU is 2-3 against teams in the NAIA’s ‘Top 25’ this year.