February 12, 2021

Photos credit by Karen Giles

DICKINSON, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a second half surge to hold off Dickinson State (N.D.) 63-60 in the key North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest Friday evening at Scott Gymnasium.  With the score knotted at 60-60, Gairges Daow made the game-winning basket after pulling down an offensive rebound to put Trojans up by two points and forced the Blue Hawks to two consecutive turnovers in the final 10 seconds of the game.

Dakota State recorded its third win in the last four games, improving to 9-12 overall record.  With Viterbo (Wis.) falling at Mayville State (N.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) beating at Valley City State (N.D.), the Trojans moved in a three-way tie for third place in the NSAA conference standings with a 7-5 record in the league with the V-Hawks and the Vikings (two games behind the conference leader MSU at 9-3 record, and one game behind second place Bellevue at 8-4 record).

DaSU completed its season series sweep over DiSU for the first time since the 2015-16 season.  Dickinson State dropped their third straight game, falling to 8-15 overall record and 5-7 NSAA conference record.

Dakota State plays another key North Star road contest Saturday evening, visiting Valley City State at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. in Valley City, N.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) 63, Dickinson State (N.D.) 60 – FINAL

• The Trojans and the Blue Hawks recorded three ties and three lead changes in the early going of the game.  DaSU made four straight field goals, holding a 9-7 lead after Daow's basket with 16:39 on the clock.
• Dickinson State went on a 7-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Bryce Knox for 14-9 lead with 13:20 left in the first period.
• Dakota State answered with a 5-0 run to cut the Blue Hawks' lead down to 14-13. 
• DiSU stretched its lead 21-13 with 7:54 left after a 3-pointer by Trey Hladky.  The Blue Hawks were their 3-of-4 field goal shooting during the 7-0 run, with three different scorers (Jalon Tinnin, John Evans and Hladky).
• Daow nailed down a free-throw to close the first half as the Trojans trailed 31-26.  Dickinson State shot 47.8 percent from the field in the first half (11-of-23 field goals) compared to Dakota State 38.5 percent (10-of-26 field goals).
• Trailing 37-30, Dakota State went on a 10-1 scoring tear to regain their lead.  Gavin Schipper highlighted the scoring run, capped with a 3-pointer to give DaSU a 40-38 lead with 15:05 remaining.
• Knotted at 42-42, the Trojans used another 10-1 scoring outburst to record the biggest lead of the game.  Jordan Lynn made a pair of free-throws to balloon DaSU's lead to 52-43 with 10:10 left.
• The Blue Hawks then went on a 7-0 scoring run to cut Dakota State's lead to 52-50 after a 3-pointer by Hladky with 8:03 remaining.
• Daow hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans led 56-60 with 4:25 left before the Blue Hawks went on another 7-0 scoring run. 
• Dickinson State made three straight baskets in their 7-0 scoring run, thanks to five straight points by Knox followed by a 3-pointer by Ajdin Toskic as the Blue Hawks led 58-56 with 3:34 remaining.
• Down 58-57, Gare Ewefada drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans regained their lead to 60-58 with 1:04 to go in the game.
• DiSU's Toskic answered back with a basket for the seventh tie of the game at 60-60 with less than 50 seconds to go.
• On the ensuing possession, Lynn missed a 3-pointer and was rebounded by Daow.  He made a put-back inside the paint to give Dakota State a 62-60 lead with 16.2 seconds remaining.
• Knox committed a turnover for the Blue Hawks as the Trojans regained possession with 9.6 seconds left in the game.  DiSU committed a foul on DaSU, sending Lynn to the free-throw line with eight seconds remaining.
• Trojan Lynn missed the back side of the bonus free-throw and was rebounded by Blue Hawk Hladky.
• Hladky committed a turnover for DiSU as Schipper stole the ball to secure the game.  The Blue Hawks committed a foul, sending Schipper to the free-throw line with 0.4 seconds remaining.
• Schipper made 1-of-2 free-throw as the Trojans secured the victory.
• Dakota State outscored Dickinson State 37-29 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Blue Hawks shot 45.8 percent from the field (11-of-24 field goals) and converted 2-of-6 free-throws.  The Trojans were 41.9 percent (13-of-31 field goals) and made 7-of-12 from the free-throw line.
• Daow paced DaSU with 17 points and collected six rebounds.  Schipper added 14 points and six rebounds.  Ewefada scored 11 points.  Ronnie Latting tallied nine points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds (4 offensive rebounds).
• Latting, Daow, Lynn and Lamarr Wood each dished out two assists for the Trojans.  Ewefada and Schipper each stole the ball twice.
• Toskic led the Blue Hawks with 19 points and eight rebounds.  Knox added 16 points.  Tinnin had 11 points and seven rebounds.  Evans earned five rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
• Evans and Hladky each recorded two steals for DiSU. 
• Dickinson State shot 46.8 percent overall from the field (22-of-47 field goals) compared to Dakota State 40.4 percent (23-of-57).  The Blue Hawks hit 10-of-19 3-pointers (52.6 percent), while the Trojans were 5-of-17 from the 3-point arc (29.4 percent).
• DaSU hit 12-of-19 free-throws (63.2 percent).  DiSU was 6-of-11 from the free-throw line (54.5 percent).
• Dakota State forced Dickinson State to 19 turnovers in the game.  The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 14-9 in points off turnovers, 32-18 inside the paint, 9-6 in second chance points and 9-4 in bench points.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director