February 17, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) shot 54.7 percent from the field Saturday evening in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball regular-season finale, defeating Dakota State (S.D.) 85-70.  The Trojans and the Blue Hawks finished in a four-way tie for third place in the logged-jam North Star Athletic Association standings.

The Trojans stand at 16-12 before heading to the conference postseason play next week.  The Blue Hawks are 15-12 overall record.

Waldorf (Iowa) and Viterbo (Wis.) were also tied for third place in the NSAA men's basketball standings.  The tiebreaker went to the Warriors at No. 3 seed after a 4-2 record within the four teams, followed by the Trojans at No. 4 seed (3-3 record).  The V-Hawks earned the No. 5 seed (2-2 record within four teams) after sweeping the season series with the Blue Hawks (2-2 record within four teams).

Bellevue (Neb.) claimed the league title at 8-4 record after defeating Valley City State (N.D.) Saturday evening, coupled with Mayville State (N.D.) setback at Waldorf (Comets finished with 7-5 conference record).

DSU honored their four seniors prior to their warm-ups—Uzo Dibiamaka, Taylor Edwards, Japjit Gill, and Uhana Ochan.
Dakota State will be hosting their first home postseason game since the 2015-16 season, where they won all three conference tournament games at home that year.  The Trojans host Viterbo with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse in the conference quarterfinals.

Dickinson State stays on the road as they make a trip to Waldorf (Iowa) for a 7 p.m. (Central Time) contest on Wednesday in the quarterfinals round.

Dickinson State (N.D.) 85, Dakota State (S.D.) 70 – FINAL

The Blue Hawks opened the game with three straight baskets to start with a 7-2 run, capped by a 3-poniter from John Evans with less than eighteen minutes on the clock.

Trailing 11-4, Dakota State went on an 11-6 scoring run to trim Dickinson State's lead to 17-15 after a 3-pointer from Gill with 11:14 to go before halftime.

Dickinson State then went on to score seven straight points to widen their lead to 24-15 after Evans' 3-pointer.

Behind 36-28, Kenny Haynes ignited the Trojans' 7-1 closing run in the final 2:09 with a 3-pointer (DSU trialed 36-31).  Ochan closed the first half with back-to-back baskets as Dakota State trailed 37-35 by halftime.

The Blue Hawks shot 46.9 percent from the field in the first half (15-of-32 field goals) compared to the Trojans 40 percent (12-of-30 field goals).

Trey Stevens opened the second half with a 3-pointer to give DiSU a 40-35 lead.  Emmanuel Akpan answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession as the Trojans trailed 40-38 with 19:14 remaining.

Dickinson State went on a 14-5 scoring run to earn the first double-digit lead of the game.  Trey Stevens hit a basket to give the Blue Hawks a 54-43 lead with 11:46 to go in the game.

Trailing 64-52, Dakota State used a 12-4 run capped by a 3-point play by Mison Coilton.  The Trojans trailed 68-64 with 5:26 remaining.

The Blue Hawks would answer with two straight 3-pointers from Stevens and Evans to extend their lead to 74-64 with 4:12 left.

DSU could get no closer than eight points at 74-66 with 3:47 left after a free-throw by Coilton.

Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 48-35 in the final twenty minutes, thanks to their sizzling 66.7 percent from the field (14-of-21 field goals) and 16-of-22 from the free-throw line.  DSU was 47.6 percent from the field (10-of-21 field goals) and 12-of-19 free-throws.

Four players scored in double-digits for the Trojans, led by Gill with 14 points on his 4-of-8 field goals (3-of-6 3-pointers) and 3-of-6 free-throws.  He also had five rebounds and three assists.  Coilton added 13 points off the bench.  Ochan scored 12 points.  Haynes tallied 11 points and collected five rebounds.

Brayden Pankonen scored eight points and earned four rebounds for Dakota State.  Akpan stole the ball three times.  Haynes and Coilton each added two steals.

Stevens poured in a game-high 30 points for Dickinson State.  He was 9-of-14 from the field and 9-of-13 from the free-throw line.  Evans added 16 points.  Kose Egbule recorded nine points, eight rebounds, and six assists.  Cordell Stinson had eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals.  Aidan Fishell had eight points off the bench.

Dakota State was 22-of-51 from the field (43.1 percent) compared to Dickinson State 29-of-53 field goals.  Both teams hit nine 3-pointers.

The Blue Hawks were 18-of-26 from the free-throw line, while the Trojans were 17-of-25 free-throws. 

DiSU had a slim rebounding edge over DSU (31-30).  Both teams scored nine points off their second chance points.

Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 16-9 in points off turnovers.  The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 32-15 in bench points.