Box Score

MAYVILLE, ND – The Comets returned home to begin their weekend stretch of NSAA action against visiting Dakota State. Both teams were looking for a key victory in the closing games of regular season conference play, and the competitiveness showed on both ends throughout the night. 

It was a fast-paced first half that was full of ties and multiple lead changes. After the Trojans jumped to a 7-0 lead early, the Comets punched right back to tie it up at seven after two quick buckets from Eric Staebler and a three from Gorg Alhag. The game would become tied up eight times in the first half, ending it at 39 after Gorg Alhag's third three pointer of the half was drained at the buzzer.

Overall, there were eleven lead changes in the tightly contested twenty minutes of action. Kevin Daniels was the force behind the Trojans with 17 at the half, but the Comets were able to balance that out with Alhag's three 3-pointers and Eric Staebler putting in ten. The Comets were shooting well from long range, going 7-16 in the first half and an even 50% overall from the field. No free throws were shot by either team in the first half. 

The second half started with the same back-and-forth effort from both teams with another four lead changes and two more ties at 43 and 45. The Trojans were able to get a 46-45 lead after a free throw by Justin Folkers and were able to hold onto that lead throughout the rest of the game. 

DSU went on a 9-2 run until Garek Droog ended the drought with a bucket, giving the Comets a spark to try and get things close. MSU got within four to bring it to 55-51 almost halfway through the half. After a DSU timeout at 10:56, the Trojans hit a bucket to take a 6-point lead, but it was answered with another three by Gorg Alhag. 

That was as close as the Comets would get for the rest of the game, as the lead was steady for the Trojans in the final minutes. The visiting Trojans were able to seal the win with some tough defense in the end, winning 79 to 69. 

Leading all scorers was Kevin Daniels for the Trojans with 24 points. Three other Trojans scored in double figures - Justin Folkers with 19 and Brendan Boomsma and Bobby Farquah with eleven each. 

For the Comets, they were led by Eric Staebler with 16 and Gorg Alhag with 15. Alhag was 5-7 on 3's and got all his points from behind the arc. It was relatively even in rebounds between the teams, the Comets gaining a slight edge, 32 to 28. Overall shooting percentages from the field had the Trojans shooting 54% and the Comets shooting 47.5%. After a hot first half with 7-16 on 3's, the Comets weren't quite so warm in the second half, shooting 3-11 from long range 

Next up for the Comets will be Bellevue at home on Saturday at 5:00 pm in another big conference game for the two squads.