Trojans suffer home loss to Saints in men's basketball action
December 20, 2009
Box Score vs. Ashford (IA)
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University men's basketball returned home for the first time since Dec. 5th and hosted Ashford (Iowa) in a non-conference game Sunday at the DSU Fieldhouse. Both teams were evenly match throughout the game, but the Saints came up on top over the Trojans 80-70.
The Trojans dropped back to .500 on the season with a 5-5 overall record. Ashford raised their record to 10-6.
The first-half featured eight ties. The Saints used their advantage at the free-throw line, going 11-for-11 compared to the Trojans' 3-for-7. Ashford held a 44-38 halftime lead.
DSU got within one point (50-49) with 14:36 left in the second-half, but the Saints continued to hold their lead between four and eight points through out the second-half. Saint Matthias Burns went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the win for Ashford.
Santino Clay led the Trojans with 18 points and dished out four assists. Spencer Adams scored 14 points off the bench. Everett Smith and Jackson Parr each scored 11 points. Smith recorded seven assists. Bryce Snyder had eight points and gathered nine rebounds.
Burns recorded a double-double for the Saints with 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He went 11-for-11 at the free-throw line. Byron Emerson added 17 points and went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. Daniel Joiner added 11 points and Klynton Bollinger had 10 points. Mike Relerford dished out five assists.
The key statistics in the game was free-throws. The Saints were near perfect at the free-throw line, going 24-for-25 compared to the Trojans' 4-for-8.
The Saints committed 23 turnovers to the Trojans' 20. Ashford scored 16 points off turnovers compared to the Trojans' 11 points.
The Trojans will have a week off and return back to action on Wednesday, Dec. 30th. DSU will host NCAA Division II Wayne State at the DSU Fieldhouse. Tip-off is slated at 7 p.m.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
