MBK: DaSU stays in NSAA regular-season title hunt with victory over VCSU
Trojans match most victories (16) since the 2015-16 season, earn first season series sweep of VCSU since 2015-16
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director
February 16, 2024
MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) opened a 47-36 halftime lead over Valley City State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans held off the Vikings' late comeback and closed the game with a 32-19 scoring run for a 95-78 victory.
DSU remained in the North Star regular-season title chase with one game behind Mayville State (N.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) (7-4 conference record each), with the final regular-season contest on Saturday.
The Trojans ended their four-game losing streak to improve their overall record to 16-11 and 6-5 record in the North Star and moved closer for a possibility of hosting the first round of the conference postseason tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
DSU matched its total victories (16) for the first time since the 2016-17 season (16-16 overall record).
VCSU fell to 11-14 overall record and 3-8 NSAA conference record, where they secured the No. 7 seed for the upcoming NSAA postseason tournament on Wednesday evening.
Dakota State earned the NSAA season series sweep over Valley City State for the first time since 2018-19 season.
The Trojans host Dickinson State (N.D.) in the regular-season finale Saturday evening at 5 p.m. There will be a senior's ceremony prior to the warm-ups and after the conclusion of the women's game.
Dakota State (S.D.) 95, Valley City State (N.D.) 79 – FINA
Dakota State never trailed in the forty minutes basketball game, despite being tied twice in the first three minutes of the game.
Tied at 6-6, the Trojans erupted for ten straight points to open a 16-6 lead after a pair of free-throws from Mison Coilton with 14:25 on the clock. DSU highlighted the scoring run with four straight baskets made from four different scorers – Japjit Gill, Uzo Dibiamaka, Emmanuel Akpan, and Coilton.
Dakota State ballooned the lead to 26-12 after a 3-pointer from Calvin Payne (assisted by Josh Lewis) with 11:36 to go in the first half.
Valley City State answered with an 8-0 scoring run, capped by Jerome Washington's 3-pointer to cut DSU's lead to 26-20 with 9:27 to go before halftime.
The Trojans went on a 5-0 quick run to regain their double-digit lead after Gill's 3-pointer and Uhana Ochan's basket for a 31-20 lead with 7:44 on the clock in the first.
VCSU went on a 9-2 scoring run to trim DSU's lead to 33-29 after Washington's 3-pointer with less than five minutes before intermission.
Brayden Pankonen hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Dibiamaka) as Dakota State led 47-36 by halftime.
DSU shot 18-of-38 from the field in the first twenty minutes (47.4 percent) compared to VCSU 14-of-36 field goals (38.9 percent).
The Trojans maintained their lead between eight- and 14-points in the first seven minutes of the second half. Lewis hit a free-throw to give DSU a 57-43 lead with 15:02 remaining.
The Vikings mounted a 9-0 scoring run to cut the Trojans' lead to 57-52 with 12:19 left after Odier Olange's basket. VCSU got closer to three points as Cleveland Bedgood hit a basket inside the paint with less than ten minutes to go (DSU led 61-58).
Leading 63-60, Dakota State went on an 8-0 scoring run, highlighted by back-to-back baskets by Akpan. DSU led 71-60 with 7:39 left.
The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game (except single dight lead with nine points twice), securing the victory.
Dakota State outscored Valley City State 48-43 in the second half, highlighted with a total of 40 free throw attempts combined by both teams. DSU was 20-of-24 from the free-throw line (83.3 percent), while VCSU was 14-of-16 from the free-throw line.
Four players scored in double digits for Dakota State, paced by Coilton with 20 points off the bench. He also grabbed nine rebounds. Ochan posted a double-double of a season-high 16 points (6-of-10 field goals and 4-of-4 free-throws) and pulled down 10 rebounds (tied season-high).
Akpan also had a season-high 16 points and collected seven rebounds for DSU. He stole the ball three times and registered two blocks. Dibiamaka added 11 points and five rebounds. He dished three assists.
Pankonen tallied seven points and four assists for the Trojans. Lewis scored nine points and earned four rebounds. Gill scored six points and contributed three assists. Payne had five points. Kenny Haynes had five points.
Bedgood poured in a game-high 29 points for the Vikings. He was 10-of-24 from the field and converted 9-of-10 free-throws. He dished out eight assists and collected six rebounds. Washington scored 16 points off the bench. Olange had 13 points and seven rebounds. Cayden Rickard had 11 points and three assists.
Ladarioius Stanfield pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds off the bench for VCSU.
Dakota State shot 47.7 percent overall from the field (31-of-65 field goals) compared to Valley City State 38.6 percent (27-of-70 field goals). Both teams made seven 3-pointers in the game.
DSU outrebounded VCSU 45-35.
The Trojans outscored the Vikings 14-7 in fastbreak points, 45-28 inside the paint, and 39-22 in bench points.