Northwestern College lost its second consecutive game, falling to Dakota State 105-98 in double overtime, in a non-conference match-up played tonight in Madison, S.D. The Red Raiders drops to 3-2 on the season.
Trent Hilbrands was two assists shy of a triple-double as the sophomore lead Northwestern with 25 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists before fouling out late in the second overtime.
Jay Small set career-highs with 14 points and seven rebounds, making 3-of-eight three-point attempts.
Leading by five (37-32) at the half, Northwestern went on a 10-4 run over a 3:30 stretch to push its advantage to 11 (47-36). Still up 11 after a three-pointer by Small, Dakota State hit four three-points during 16-6 run to make it a one-point game with 10 minutes left. The Red Raiders gradually pulled away once again, and following a lay-up by
Grant DeMeulenaere, led 74-66 with just over five minutes left.
Back came the Trojans however, as Brady Elder knocked down a three-pointer to give his team their first lead of the second half, 77-76, with three minutes left. Free throws by DeMeulenaere and baskets by Hilbrands put Northwestern in front by three, 82-79, with little time remaining but Justin Folkers knocked down a three-pointer as time expired to send the game into overtime.
Dakota State scored the first five points of the first overtime on another Folkers three-pointer and free throws by Josh McGreal.
Craig Sterk then scored the next five points, the final three on a nifty and-one, to tie the score at 87 with 1:21 left. McGreal came down and scored off a backcut to put DSU in front but
Steven Kragt converted a pair of free throws to tie the game again, 89-89. Both teams missed on a chance to win it over the final 40 seconds.
Tied at 94 in the second overtime, a basket by Elder put the Trojans up for good and began an 11-2 game-deciding run to win it for the hosts. DSU held the Red Raiders to just two baskets over the final three minutes.
Northwestern shot 46% for the game, 29% (10/35) from the three-point line. Five Red Raiders scored in double figures, led by Hlbrands and Small. Both Kragt and
Chris Borchers netted 13 points and Sterk put in 12 to go with seven rebounds and two steals. The Red Raiders held a slight 46-40 edge on the boards and committed 14 turnovers.
Folkers led all players with 32 points, draining 6-of-9 three-point attempts. Both Elder and McGreal added 24 points each and Cody Muilenburg and Brady Van Holland scored 10. Dakota State shot 44% from the three-point line, making 16-of-36 attempts.
