January 19, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a monstrous 14-1 scoring outburst in the final six minutes, twenty-eight seconds of the game to pull away past Viterbo (Wis.) by the score of 94-71 Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans kicked off their three-game North Star Athletic Association men's basketball home stand at DSU Fieldhouse, earning their second straight home victory over the V-Hawks.

Dakota State used their balanced scoring attack with ten different players scoring in the game, with five players scoring in double digits.  The Trojans matched their numbers of victories with the 2021-22 squad.  The last time DSU scored at least 90 points in North Star conference regular season play was on Jan. 30, 2021, where the Trojans scored 90 points in their rout over Waldorf (Iowa).  DSU also scored 95 points against the V-Hawks in the NSAA postseason tournament opening round that same here in La Crosse, Wis.

It was the largest home victory for the Trojans in the series meeting with Viterbo in North Star conference regular season play.  Dakota State, who played in the Coaches vs. Cancer contest Friday evening by warning their pink jerseys to raise cancer awareness, raised their overall record to 13-7 and 3-1 record in the league.  The V-Hawks dropped their third straight game, falling to 6-12 overall record and 0-3 NSAA conference record.

DSU continues their homestand Saturday evening as they host Waldorf in the Military Appreciation Night.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.  Viterbo travels to Bellevue (Neb.) on the same night for another North Star contest.

Dakota State (S.D.) 94, Viterbo (Wis.) 71 – FINAL

Dakota State and Viterbo exchanged leads three times and knotted the game four times in the first four minutes of the game.

With the fourth tie being recorded at 9-9, the Trojans went on a 16-6 outburst to earn the first double digit of the game.  Brayden Pankonen drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Calvin Payne) to give DSU a 25-15 lead with 12:02 to go in the first half.

The V-Hawks answered with a 9-2 scoring run to cut the Trojans' lead to 26-24 with 9:05 on the clock in the first, capped by a 3-pointer from Carson Koepnick.

Josh Lewis fueled Dakota State's 12-2 outburst with back-to-back 3-pointers, followed by three straight baskets from three different players (Emmanuel Akpan, Mison Coilton, and Japjit Gill) to grab a 38-26 led with 6:10 go before halftime.

DSU maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the first half.  A steal by Uzo Dibiamaka followed by a fast-break layup by Lewis gave the Trojans a 54-37 halftime lead.  Trojan Akpan recorded a blocked shot on VU's 3-pointer as the first half ended.

Dakota State shot 52.8 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (19-of-36 field goals).  The Trojans drained nine 3-pointers in 16 tries.  Viterbo was 50 percent from the field (16-of-32 field goals) and 2-of-8 from the 3-point line.

After missing the first field goal of the second half, Viterbo nailed down nine consecutive baskets in propelling their 19-9 scoring run.  Jack Monis capped with back-to-back baskets as the V-Hawks trailed 63-56, forcing the Trojans to burn a timeout with 14:07 remaining.

Dakota State maintained their lead between nine- and 12-points for the next three-plus minutes.  Viterbo could get no closer than seven points for the second time at 70-63 after a pair of free-throws from Ben Olson with 9:48 left.

Cole Crubel drained a 3-pointer as Viterbo trimmed Dakota State's lead to 80-70.  The V-Hawks then called a timeout with 6:28 to go.

From there, it was all Dakota State where they staged a 14-1 closing run to secure the victory.  The Trojans' scoring run highlighted by five straight made baskets, capped by Dibiamaka's 3-point play for a 91-71 lead with less than four minutes left in the game.

Viterbo missed five field goals, committed two turnovers, and went 1-of-4 from the free-throw line during their scoring drought.

Taylor Edwards made a basket to give DSU the biggest lead of the game at 94-71 with 1:12 left.

Dakota State outscored Viterbo 40-34 in the second half.  The Trojans were 47.2 percent from the field (17-of-36 field goals).  The V-Hawks shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26 field goals) in the final twenty minutes and converted 10-of-15 free-throws.

Coilton produced a double-double for the second time in the last three games for DSU.  He posted game-highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds.  He was 8-of-12 from the field.  He also dished out four assists, recorded two steals, and recorded two blocked shots.  Lewis tallied a season-high 18 points off the bench.  He hit 7-of-9 from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point arc.

Gill added 11 points and four assists for the Trojans.  Dibiamaka and Pankonen each had 10 points and contributed three assists.  Akpan registered nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.  Uhana Ochan had five points, five rebounds, and a monstrous blocked shot near the end of the first half.

Monis led the V-Hawks with 19 points on his 9-of-16 field goals.  Olson added 16 points and four rebounds.  Colin Adams had 13 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.  Olson and Adams each went 5-of-7 from the field. 

Crubel scored 12 points off the bench for VU.  Dakota Mannel dished out a game-high 10 assists, with eight assists coming in the first half.  Nick Malovrh added five assists.

Dakota State shot 50 percent overall from the field (36-of-72 field goals) and drained 13 3-pointers in 30 tries.  Viterbo was 46.6 percent from the field (27-of-58 field goals) and hit 4-of-14 from the 3-point line. 

VU was 13-of-21 from the free-throw line (61.9 percent) compared to DSU 9-of-16 free-throws (56.3 percent).

The Trojans outrebounded the V-Hawks 41-35.  Dakota State outscored Viterbo 8-0 in second chance points and fast break points. 

A total of 42 assists combined by both teams were recorded (22 by the V-Hawks and 20 by the Trojans).