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Trojans return home for two-game men's basketball home stand
January 2, 2013
THIS WEEK: The Dakota State University men's basketball team (9-4 overall record) looks to bounce back in the winning column Saturday evening. The Trojans welcome Midland (Neb.) (10-5) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse as part of Armed Forces Night.
TROJANS KICK OFF 2013 AT HOME: Dakota State kicks off the 2013 portion of the schedule with two-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse against a pair of GPAC foes. The Trojans play Midland on Saturday and welcome the nationally-ranked Dordt (Iowa) on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
HOME COOKING: The Trojans are 5-1 at home this season. DSU's only loss was to the nationally-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) on Nov. 7. Dakota State defeated Oglala Lakota (S.D.), Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Morningside (Iowa), Presentation (S.D.) and nationally-ranked Bellevue (Neb.). The Trojans have six more home games in 2013, including four games at DSU Fieldhouse this month.
HISTORY LESSON: The last time DSU men's basketball recorded double digits wins for four straight season was from 1988-89 season through 1993-94 season (six straight seasons). The Trojans had 10 wins in 1988-89, 17 wins in 1989-90, 20 wins in 1990-91, 19 wins in 1991-92 (Final Four), 14 wins in 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons. Since Gary Garner's arrival at Dakota State four years ago, DSU had recorded 11 wins in 2009-11, 15 wins in 2011-12 and 18 wins in 2011-12 (national tournament appearance). DSU had recorded back-to-back winning seasons last year. DSU was 18-13 overall record in 2011-12 and 15-14 in 2010-11, which marked the first time since 1989-93 seasons (four straight years of winning records) that DSU had recorded consecutive winning seasons.
LAST MEETING: Both teams split their two meetings last season with each team winning on the road. Midland defeated DSU in the last meeting on Feb. 11, 2012 at DSU Fieldhouse. The Warriors jumped to a 10-point halftime lead and held off DSU's second-half rally by the score of 68-65. Dakota State beat Midland in Fremont, Neb. on Jan. 7, 2012. The Trojans shot 69.6 percent in the second-half as the Trojans rallied back for an 83-81 victory.
TROJANS VS. GPAC: Dakota State had played six games against GPAC members in 2012. The Trojans are 2-4 against the GPAC, defeating Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Morningside (Iowa). DSU lost to Northwestern (Iowa) twice, Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Morningside (Iowa). The Trojans will play five more games against the GPAC in 2013.
DSU RECEIVES VOTES TO NATIONAL POLL FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WEEK: For the third straight week, Dakota State received votes to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' 'Top 25' national poll, which was released on Dec. 11. The Trojans received four votes to the national poll. Briar Cliff received six votes to the national poll. Morningside appeared in the preseason coaches' national poll in the receiving votes section. The fourth-regular season Coaches' Top 25 national poll will be announced on Jan. 8, 2013.
LAST TIME OUT: The Trojans dropped a pair of games against the GPAC members in the Morningside Holiday Classic last weekend in Sioux City, Iowa. On Dec. 28, Dakota State jumped to a five-point halftime lead at 28-23 with Briar Cliff (Iowa). The Chargers drained 12 3-pointers and outscored the Trojans 52-31 in the second-half for a 75-59 victory. The Trojans could not get back in the winning column on Dec. 29 as they dropped a 65-53 contest to host-team Morningside. Midland extended their winning streak to six games as they swept a pair of games in the Kanas Wesleyan Classic. The Warriors defeated Bethany (Kan.) 82-65 on Dec. 28 and Kanas Wesleyan 78-68 on Dec. 29. The last loss by Warriors were at the nationally-ranked Doane (Neb.) on Dec. 5 by the score of 65-64. Midland is scheduled to play Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in GPAC action Wednesday night (tonight) at the Midland Events Center in Fremont, Neb.
TROJANS DEFENSE RANKS NATIONALLY: According to the NAIA-DakStats statistical website as of Wednesday, Dakota State ranks 25th in the nation in scoring defense per game (65.5). The Trojans are 40th in field goal percentage defense (41.5 percent), 44th in scoring margin (+7.5) and 49th in total defense rebounds (34.5).
DSU QUICK LEADERS: John Lamb averages 13.6 points per game for the Trojans. He shoots 40.4 percent from the field. Lamb leads the team in steals with 19. He ranks 14th in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (3.1) and 33rd in total 3-point field goals made with 37. Yusuf Vinson records 97 rebounds (8.1 rebounds per game). He ranks 36th in the nation in total rebounds per game (8.1), 40th in offensive rebounds per game (2.8), 41st in free-throw percentage (80 percent) and 43rd in defensive rebounds per game (5.3).
WATCH & LISTEN IT: Dakota State will have a free live video and audio of DSU-Midland basketball game on Saturday. Fans wanting to follow the action can go to the following link: http://streaming.dsu.edu/Athletics-Live. The link also will be available on www.dsuathletics.com in the 'Live Games' tab above the 'Upcoming Events.'
LIVE STATS/PLAY-BY-PLAY: All Dakota State home basketball games will have live stats and play-by-play. The live stats link is available on game day on www.dsuathletics.com under 'Live Games' tab above the 'Upcoming Events.'
STAY CONNECTED: Stay connected with Dakota State men's basketball and athletics all season long on www.dsuathletics.com. The Trojans are also on Twitter, just log onto www.twitter.com/GoDaSUAthletics. The Dakota State University Athletics group page can be found on Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/DSUTrojanAthletics.
UP NEXT: Dakota State remains at home on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Dakota State takes on another foe from the GPAC—No. 13 Dordt (Iowa). Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans travel west next weekend for a contest with Oglala Lakota (S.D.) on Jan. 11 (8 p.m. Central Time/7 p.m. Mountain Time) and South Dakota Mines on Jan. 12 (6 p.m. CT/5 p.m. MT).
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
