Trojans Let Pair of Games Slip on the Road & Fall Short to V-Hawks & Warriors
The Trojan Men’s Basketball team slipped up on the road this weekend, dropping both games losing to Viterbo 77-57 and Waldorf 77-64.
An uncharacteristic weekend for the Trojans who came in shooting the best in conference from deep and holding opponents to the worst 3P%, to having a terrible weekend shooting threes and not being able to stop other teams from doing so. Allowing 18-35 from deep this weekend (57.4%). These losses push the Trojans down to 15-9 overall and 5-3 in North Star Athletic Association play.
Friday
It began on Friday in La Crosse, Wisconsin where the V-Hawks had quite a day against DSU. They scored a season-high 92 points and dished out 21 assists in yet another home victory this season for the V-Hawks to even the season series 1-1.
Viterbo set the tone in the first half by shooting the lights out and stirring the confidence of the Trojans. The V-Hawks shot a blistering 70% from the field in the first half and 77.8% from beyond the arc. They finished the game 61.4% FG and 60% from deep.
The V-Hawks caused the Trojans to commit 15 turnovers in the game, in part due to nine steals from Viterbo. They scored 21 points off those turnovers by DSU.
Jack Monis and Cole Crubel led the V-Hawks in scoring with 18 points each, with all of Crubel’s coming off the bench. Two other players were in double figures for them. Those being Ben Olson (14) and Nick Malovrh (12).
Mison Coilton led the Trojans in scoring with 19 points. Along with tying for the lead in assists with two, the sole lead in steals with a pair and the Trojans lone block belongs to him as well. Two other Trojans saw double figures – those being Brayden Pankonen with 14 and Emmanuel Akpan with 12 points.
Saturday
On Saturday, the Trojans failed to regain their footing. The shooting struggles from deep continued. The Warriors were able to take advantage and had a solid second half shooting the basketball. Going 16-31 (51.6%) from the field and 7-13 (53.8%).
Spearheaded by Noah Miller who led all scorers with 22 points and five made threes, with 17 points coming in the second half. Khalil Grayson scored 20 off the bench for the Warriors, with 13 coming in the first half. Both players had some scoring runs which put the Trojans behind the eight ball.
DSU managed more first half minutes in the first half for Uhana Ochan and Taylor Edwards due to an early technical foul issued to Coilton. Both of which went 2-3 FG and combined for 11 points and played good minutes. Japjit Gill led the Trojans in scoring with 15 points and Coilton added 12. Later in the game Coilton was hit with another technical foul and ejected from the game. Due to the ejection, he will miss the Trojans next game.
They were dominated in the rebound battle by the Warriors in the game 40-21. Led by Ugo Ejiofor with a game-high 13 rebounds. Waldorf won in second chance points 10-0 over the Trojans. They split the season series with the win, 1-1.
Next Game
Next the Trojans will return home to host Bellevue on Wednesday, who is now tied with the Trojans atop the NSAA.