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Garner eyes milestone as Trojan men’s basketball starts regular-season this week
October 31, 2011
THIS WEEK: The Dakota State University men’s basketball (0-0 overall record) starts their 2011-12 schedule at home on Tuesday night. The Trojans host Grace College (Neb.) (0-0) in both teams’ first-ever meeting at DSU Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. On Saturday night, Dakota State travels to Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D. to face their former Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) foe Mayville State (3-0) at 7:30 p.m.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN: Dakota State currently has 21 players on the roster with six seniors, three juniors, eight sophomores and four freshmen. The Trojans return Jordan Snyder, Chason Woods, Terran Chapin, Mitchell Trestrail, Spencer Adams, Jesse Bean and Domach Khai from last year’s team. There are 14 new faces to the DSU men’s basketball team: Yusef Gray, Keith Lee, Stephen Klekas, Kenny King, Donald Stewart, Keith Biggers, Luke Lamb, Cameron Krump, Jose Bonilla, Jay Huls, Ryan McCuthcheon, Tom Mettler, Cam Shafer and Yusuf Vinson. The Trojans had added a junior varsity team this year with 10 games being scheduled – with their first home game on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. versus Morningside.
DSU IN SEASON OPENER: Dakota State is 2-0 in season opener when head coach Gary Garner began coaching in 2009. The Trojans defeated their in-state rival Mount Marty 52-47 in Yankton, S.D. on Nov. 2, 2009 and Graceland (Iowa) 92-72 in Dakota Wesleyan Classic in Mitchell, S.D. on Oct. 29, 2010.
GARNER EYES CAREER WIN No. 400: Gary Garner is going for his 400th collegiate career win this week. He currently holds a career college coaching record of 399-329. He has also coached at Kempe Military Academy, Missouri Southern State College, Drake University and Southeast Missouri State. He became head coach at DSU in 2009 and led the Trojans to their first winning season since 1993 with an overall record of 15-14. Garner was also recently inducted in the 2011 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Hall of Fame.
A.I.I. TOURNAMENT TO BE HELD IN MADISON: Dakota State is in their first year membership in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). DSU will be hosting the A.I.I. women’s and men’s basketball independent tournaments at DSU Fieldhouse in February.
COACHES’ CORNER: Gary Garner is entering his third year as Dakota State University men’s basketball head coach. Garner’s collegiate experience is primarily on the Division I and II levels. Prior to Dakota State, he has served as the assistant coach for Iowa Energy, a team with the NBA Development League, for two seasons. He served as head basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State University from 1997-2006. From 1991-1997, he led the men’s team at Fort Hays State University. His 1995-1996 team won the NCAA Division II Tournament, capping a perfect 34-0 season. The same year, Garner was named the NCAA II Bulletin National Coach of the Year and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Coach of the Year. In June 2011, Garner was inducted in the RMAC Hall of Fame for his successful coaching ear at Fort Hays State University.
COACH MATTHEW GARNER: Matthew Garner is in his third season with the Dakota State University men’s basketball coaching staff. He comes to DSU with a wide background of coaching experience. He was a member of the 1995-96 undefeated Fort Hays State University NCAA Division II National Championship team that finished an overall record of 34-0. In addition to his tenure at FHSU, he was an integral part of four conference championship as a player and a volunteer student assistant coach. After his tenure at Fort Hays State, he joined the coaching staff at NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State University. He also had coaching experience at University of Denver.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Dakota State women’s basketball and athletics all season long at www.dsuathletics.com. The Trojans are also on Twitter, just log onto www.twitter.com/DaSUAthletics.
LIVE STATS: Live stats and play-by-play will be available in all Dakota State’s home games. The live stats are available on game day on www.dsuathletics.com under ‘Live Games’ tab above the ‘Upcoming Events.’
WATCH IT: All Dakota State home men’s basketball games will be webcast live and free of charge. Fans wanting to follow the action can go to the following link: www.streaming.dsu.edu/Athletics-Live.
UP NEXT: After a road game at Mayville State on Saturday, DSU begins their four-game home stand on Tuesday, Nov. 8 versus Northwestern (Iowa). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse. Dakota State University will be hosting a two-day Ed Harter Classic event on Nov. 11 and 12. Graceland (Iowa), Morningside, Mayville State and host-team DSU will be part of the classic.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
