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Trojan men's basketball faces two teams from NAIA 'Top 10' this week
January 9, 2012
THIS WEEK: Dakota State (10-6 overall record) will facing two NAIA's 'Top 10' teams this week. The Trojans concludes their three-game stretch on the road on Wednesday night in Sioux Center, Iowa. DSU face Dordt (Iowa) (17-1) with a tip-off starting at 8 p.m. On Saturday night, Dakota State returns home to host Jamestown (16-4) in both teams' second meeting of the season. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison, S.D.
NAIA NATIONAL RANKINGS: As of Monday, Jan. 9, Dakota State continues to gain recognition to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball national poll. The Trojans received three votes to the national poll, which is two more votes than the previous poll on Dec. 12, 2011. Dordt (Iowa) remained at No. 2 with a 17-1 overall record. Jamestown had moved up three spots from No. 13 to No. 10 with a 16-4 record.
LAST MEETING: The Trojans used a strong scoring run late in the first-half and early second-half to defeat Dordt 89-72 in both teams' last meeting on Nov. 9, 2010 at DSU Fieldhouse. Jamestown won the last five meetings from DSU, most recently on Jan. 3, 2012 in Jamestown, N.D. Dakota State built a double-digit lead in the second-half before the Jimmies made a late rally to defeat the Trojans 58-51. The last time DSU defeated Jamestown was on Jan. 22, 2010 at DSU Fieldhouse by the score of 63-53.
LAST TIME OUT: Dakota State split a pair of road games to kick off the 2012 season. The Trojans lost a 58-51 decision to then-No. 13 Jamestown on Jan. 3. DSU bounced back in the winning column as the Trojans held on an 83-81 victory at Midland on Jan. 7. Dordt went 2-0 for the week as they defeated Hastings 98-77 on Jan. 4 and survived an overtime thriller at Concordia (Neb.) 87-83 on Jan. 7. Jamestown went 3-0 last week, including the victory versus the Trojans and road wins at South Dakota Mines (77-70) on Jan. 6 and at Oglala Lakota College (107-65) on Jan. 7.
ROAD WARRIORS: Dakota State is currently 5-2 in games played on the road this season.
TOUGH SCHEDULE: DSU will be facing an opponents ranked in the NAIA 'Top 25' teams for the sixth and seventh times this week. It will mark the fifth time on Saturday night that the Trojans had faced a team in the NAIA 'Top 10' teams this season.
DSU RANKS NATIONALLY: According to the DakStats-NAIA statistical website as of Monday, Jan. 9, Dakota State ranks 21st in the nation in field goal percentage defense (41.6), 33rd in assists per game (15.3) and 35th in total rebounds per game (37.9). The Trojans are 36th in the nation in scoring defense per game (68.9), 38th in field goal percentage (45.9) and 45th in total rebound margin (+2.8).
QUICK LEADERS: Jesse Bean leads the team in scoring with an average of 13.5 points per game. He shoots 43.2 percent from the field. Bean averages 2.8 assists (42 total) and 1.1 steals (16 steals) for the Trojans. Keith Biggers records 90 rebounds (6.0 average). Spencer Adams record seven blocked shots (0.5 per game). Keith Lee ranks 18th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio of 2.7.
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Dakota State men's basketball and athletics all season long at 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: Fans can follow DSU-Dordt on http://www.dordt.edu/cgi-bin/events/calendar/webcast.pl?id=6008. Fans can watch live video and audio of JC-DSU game free of charge on Saturday. Jim Hockett, Voice of the Trojans, will handle the play-by-play. Fans wanting to follow the action can go to the following link: www.streaming.dsu.edu/Athletics-Live.
UP NEXT: Dakota State heads on the road on Jan. 17 to face their in-state rival University of Sioux Falls. The game will be broadcast live on Midco Sports Network channel at 8 p.m. The Trojans return home on Jan. 20-21 as they host Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
