Trojans Handle V-Hawks at Home and Advance to NSAA Semifinals to Face Conference Champion Bellevue
The Dakota State Men’s Basketball keeps their season alive with a strong home win in the North Star Athletic Association Quarterfinals over Viterbo, 85-61.
Even at the halftime break the Trojans didn’t allow it to be close, only in the early going of the game was it close. Trojans led 44-28 at the halftime break over Viterbo and when the Trojans lead at halftime, they’re now 13-2.
It started with a spark off the bench for DSU with the bench pairing of Kenny Haynes and Mison Coilton combining for 21 first half points. DSU shot 51.7% in the first half and 40% from deep. Viterbo attempted to storm back early in the second half, but the Trojans answered each time. Including having their first four baskets of the second half be threes.
Dakota State finished the game with a season-high 15 made threes. Their previous high of 14 came on the road in a loss to Midland. The next highest mark of made threes was 13 against Viterbo on Jan. 19 in the DSU Fieldhouse. Eight Trojans made a 3-pointer in the game and five made two or more.
The V-Hawks were led in scoring by Dakota Mannel who finished with a game-high 17 points on 5-for-6 (83.3%) from the field. He also led Viterbo in assists with six. Jack Monis followed him in scoring with 14 points on just 6-for-15 (40%) from the field and Ben Olson added 13. Viterbo turned the ball over 17 times against DSU. Which is the highest mark in the three matchups this year between the two teams.
Coilton and Emmanuel Akpan led the Trojans in scoring with 15 points each, all of Coilton’s coming off the bench. They combined to shoot 10-for-12 (83.3%) from the field in the game. Also scoring in double figures was Brayden Pankonen with 14 points and Haynes added 10 points off the bench. Dakota State shot 56.6% from the field and 44.1% from deep. Both of which are the second highest marks of the year for DSU.
Next Game
Next the Trojans will head to Nebraska to take on the No. 1 seed and conference champion Bellevue Bruins in the NSAA Semifinals. Looking to advance to the NSAA Championship for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
