North Dakota SCS Prevails At Dawson, Handling The Bucs For The Third Time
(January 31, 2022) Glendive, MT – In a battle of the Mon-Daks top two teams, North Dakota State College of Science turns aside Dawson 76-74. The game was close throughout. Neither team held a lead larger than three possessions. There were 16 ties and ties and 16 lead flips. In front of a packed house and very raucous home crowd, the game exemplified all the intensity and flavor of a national tournament contest.
The difference between the two teams was never more than a three possessions. Dawson’s largest margin was seven at the 3:00 mark in the first half. NDSCS biggest advantage was eight three minutes before the end.
Dawson used a first half scoring blitz by DaAngelo Horn to take a 38-36 lead into the locker room. Horn put on a nearly perfect shooting display, hitting all five of his 2 point FG attempts and all five of his FTs. His only miss was from three point land. North Dakota’s Micah Swallow kept the Cats in it with 10 points and 5 rebounds.
Both teams were amazingly an identical 14-31 from the field, 2-10 from beyond the big arc. The halftime margin was only due to Dawson making two more FTs than their opponent.
In the second half, more of the same. Both teams led, but never by more than four points, until just under seven minutes to go in regulation when the Wildcats but together a 7 point run. Logan Jedwabny, the Cats top gun in the second half with 15, hit a three to give them a two point lead, 65-63.
Moments later, Swallow and Khari Broadway made layups on each side of a Kose Egbule offensive foul for a 69-63 lead.
Trialing 73 to 65, Dawson made things interesting with an 8-2 run in the final minute to climb within two 75-73 when Horn scored on a lay-in. The Bucs got a defensive stop and Horn was fouled securing the rebound with 11 ticks of clock left.
In the double bonus, Horn had two throws. He missed the first toss but nailed the second making the score 75-74.
Forced to foul, JaQuan Sanders-Smith of ND made his first FT but misfired the second giving the Bucs a last second chance to win or tie. Michael Jok found an open Mpoyo on the wing but his long distance shot went awry and NDSCS (24-1, 15-1) slips by the defending conference and district champs for the third time this season.
The Wildcats beat the Bucs 80-76 in Wapheton, ND back on Jan. 9, and again 72-69 in November on a neutral court during the Mon-Dak Tip-Off Tournament.
North Dakota had four players reach ten or more points. At the top was Swallow who finished with 18 points and doubled down with 10 rebounds. Following Micah was Jedwabny who topped off at 17 (15 in the 2nd half all 3’s), Broadway, who was good for 12, and Sanders-Smith adding 11.
The shooting stats were almost the same again in the second stanza. Both teams shot 44% on 23 FG makes, and the Bucs held their two point advantage on made FTs, with each team receiving 23 tries. Dawson did have 5 more turnovers in the game, and outrebounded their guests 45-35, but the final margin was largely due to NDSCS hitting four more 3 pointers than the home team in the second period. Dawson was one for eight after half for a total of 3-18 (12.5%). Meanwhile, the Cats were 5-11 in the final 20 minutes to finish 7 of 21 (33.%).
Dawson, now 20-5,12-4, had two in double figures with DeAngelo Horn getting three after the break to end up at 18 points and 8 rebounds. Next up was Jalen Tot with 10 coupled with 8 assists. Both performances came from the bench. Yok scored two, but matched game high grabbing 10 boards.
Next up for Dawson is Dakota College at Bottineau on Sunday Feb. 6. NDSCS, winners of 16 straight, returns home to face Lake Region State on Monday, Feb. 7.
North Dakota has a 3 game lead over Dawson in the Conference and tie-breakers. Dawson is firmly planted in second with a 2 1/2 game lead over Lake Region State. Lake Region is two games back in the loss column, but does have a game in hand. Those two teams meet in a couple of weeks in Devils Lake.
Side note: In the Joe Peterson era, the Bucs HC since the 2015-16 season, Dawson has been stingy in the Toepke Center. Entering this game vs. NDSCS, in the last three years, Dawson was 38-2 overall at home and 29-0 in conference home games. Dating back five years ago, the Bucs have gone 65-7 overall at home and 40-2 in conference home games.
