Dickinson State captures NSAA tournament title
Dickinson State (N.D.)
Dickinson, N.D. - Dickinson State secured the North Star Athletic Association tournament championship with a 67-62 victory over Jamestown on Tuesday night at Scott Gymnasium, earning an automatic berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The Blue Hawks will learn their first-round opponent following Thursday’s NAIA Selection Show.
Dickinson State (19-10) used an efficient offensive performance and timely defensive stops to claim the conference title. The Blue Hawks shot 51.9% from the field and held off a late Jamestown rally to extend their season. Kose Egbule led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including three 3-pointers. Aidan Fishell provided a key scoring lift with 15 points, going 5-of-9 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. Cordell Stinson added seven points and pulled down a team-high six rebounds, while Trey Stevens and John Evans chipped in six points each.
Jamestown (17-11) put up a fight late but could not overcome an early deficit. The Jimmies were led by Anthony Walters, who recorded 15 points and eight rebounds. Cole Glasgow added 13 points on an efficient 6-of-7 shooting, while Silas Bennion contributed 11 points despite struggling from the field, making just 3-of-15 attempts. Jimmy Llinas finished with 11 points and six rebounds for Jamestown.
Dickinson State set the tone early, executing well on both ends of the court. The Blue Hawks shot 54.2% from the field in the first half and controlled the tempo for most of the opening period. Egbule knocked down a pair of early 3-pointers, and the Blue Hawks’ defense limited Jamestown’s perimeter success. The Jimmies managed just 1-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half, allowing Dickinson State to build a 35-28 halftime lead.
Jamestown responded in the second half, gradually chipping away at the deficit. Walters led the charge inside, while Glasgow and Bennion found their rhythm from the perimeter. The Jimmies improved their three-point shooting in the second half, connecting on 5-of-12 attempts after a cold start. They cut the lead to 50-48 with just over eight minutes remaining following a Walters layup, forcing a Dickinson State timeout.
Out of the timeout, the Blue Hawks answered with a key sequence. Stevens hit a mid-range jumper, and Fishell followed with a three-pointer from the left wing to push the lead back to seven. Jamestown continued to battle, trimming the deficit to two points with under three minutes to play. Walters scored in the paint, and Llinas added a short jumper to make it a one-possession game.
With the score at 62-61 in the final two minutes, Dickinson State turned to its defense. The Blue Hawks forced a turnover near midcourt, leading to a transition layup from Evans to extend the lead to three. After a missed three-point attempt by Jamestown on the next possession, Fishell secured the rebound and was fouled. The sophomore guard calmly knocked down both free throws, sealing the victory.
Defensively, Dickinson State held Jamestown to 45.6% shooting from the field and forced eight turnovers. The Blue Hawks also limited second-chance opportunities, allowing just four offensive rebounds. On the offensive end, Dickinson State converted 38.1% of its three-point attempts, led by Egbule’s 3-of-4 shooting from deep.
Bench production proved to be a significant factor in the Blue Hawks’ win. Dickinson State received 25 points from its reserves, compared to 15 from Jamestown’s bench. Fishell and Stinson played key roles in that advantage, combining for 22 points while controlling the boards in critical moments.
In the paint, Dickinson State held a slight edge, outscoring Jamestown 30-28. The Blue Hawks also capitalized on turnovers, turning eight Jamestown mistakes into 12 points. Fast-break opportunities were limited, with neither team scoring in transition, but Dickinson State’s half-court execution proved to be the difference.
Dickinson State will await its NAIA National Tournament matchup, which will be announced during Thursday’s selection show. The Blue Hawks will enter the tournament with momentum, having won five in a row.