From Jamestown Athletics

MADISON, S.D.– The 10th-ranked University of Jamestown men’s basketball team withstood a huge second-half offensive display from Dakota State University, holding off the Trojans for an 81-71 win Tuesday night.

The Jimmies got off to a fast start, opening the game on a 15-1 run and eventually going up by 21 after a Devan Praska (SR/Thompson, ND) three-pointer with 7:51 in the half.

A 13-3 run to end the first put Jamestown up 43-13 going into the break, with the Jimmies making 15 of their 28 shots overall, including five of nine from three-point range. DSU made only five of their 27 attempts, one of seven from beyond the arc.

UJ led by as many as 30 with 16:32 in the game when John Argue (SO/Houston, TX)’s three-pointer made it 50-20. The Trojans then went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 20, then used a larger 40-19 run to make it a 69-60 game with 4:41 left.

Dakota State would get no closer than nine points as a Cole Woodford (SO/Redwood Falls, MN) three put Jamestown back in front by 12, then a seven-of-eight performance from the free throw line over the final 2:48 helped keep the lead.

Birch led the Jimmies with 18 points and had eight rebounds, while Argue had a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds. Marc Kjos (JR/Lake City, MN) finished with 14 points, five assists, and six steals, and Praska added 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Jamestown (11-2) returns to GPAC action Saturday at Mount Marty (S.D.) University.