Basketball Fall to Lakeland in Opening Round of the National Tournament

For immediate release:
Tuesday, March 19, 2018

Dakota County – 73
Lakeland - 94

Danville, IL – The final game of day one of the 2019 Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament placed Dakota County, the No. 7 seed, against Lakeland, the No. 10 seed. Powered by Bowers was the theme in the early going for the lower-seeded Lakers. Lakeland jumped out to an 10-2 lead after an 10-0 run following Dakota County opening up the game with the first points. Dashawn Walker scored four points for the Blue Knights who trailed 14-6 by the first media timeout.  Bowers continued his scoring after DCTC brought the game within three, 15-12 by reeling off 6 points. Tyreke Johnson and Chandler Fointno would take over for the Lakers for the remainder of the half, as Johnson scored the final 11 points for Lakeland, who grew a lead as large a 22. Dakota County was unable to amount much offensively, and the stats showed. Lakeland shot 54% compared to DCTC's 31%. With three players in double figures, by half, Lakeland took a 19-point lead into the locker room.

Out of the gate, Dakota County's woes continued and Lakeland's lead grew to 32, their largest, with 17:54 left after Bowers and Johnson scored buckets. The Blue Knights showed signs of life after the first five minutes. Led by Cody Sticha, who scored 10 points in the first eight minutes of the half, after a pair of his free throws, DCTC had the gap cut down to 12, 59-47, with 13:35 to go. But that didn't last long, as Lakers countered quickly and in less than three minutes had the game back to 20 points after an Isaiah Washington three-pointer. Another flourish by DCTC had a 24-point lead cut back down to 16 with 4:06. Nothing would amount and Lakeland cruised to a 94-73 victory. Lakeland will face Johnson County at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night while Dakota County will move to the consolation bracket to play Pitt on Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

TEAM LEADERS:
Dakota County:
#13 Dashawn Walker – Fr. – 6'6 – 19pts, 5rebs, 2stls
#22 Cody Sticha – So. 6'4 – 17pts, 7rebs
#11 Amitri Collins-Westlund – Fr. – 6'1 – 11pts, 4/8 FG

Lakeland:
#11 Jonny Bowers – Fr. – 6'4 – 22pts, 11/13 FG, 8rebs
#22 Tyreke Johnson – Fr. – 6'6 – 17pts, 8rebs
#2 Chandler Fointno – So. – 6'1 – 17pts, 5rebs, 2stls, 7/10 FG