February 27, 2021

BELLEVUE, Neb. – The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team made their third trip within five days in three different states in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason tournament (at Viterbo, Wis. on Feb. 23 and at Mayville State, N.D. on Feb. 25).  The fifth-seeded Trojans faced second-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) in the championship game Saturday evening at Gordon Lozier Center, falling short by the score of 63-57.

Dakota State made their fourth NSAA tournament's championship game, their first time since the 2015-16 season.  The Trojans wrapped up their 2020-21 season with an overall record of 11-15, the most wins since the 2017-18 season.

Bellevue earned their fourth straight win, improving their overall record to 20-13.  The Bruins await to hear on where they will head for the NAIA National Tournament, announced by the NAIA's Selection Show scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m.

Bellevue (Neb.) 63, Dakota State (S.D.) 57 – FINAL

• Dakota State and Bellevue kicked off the game with two ties and three lead changes. 
• Trailing 7-6, the Trojans went on an 8-0 run to open a 14-7 lead capped by Gavin Schipper's 3-pointer (assisted by Cole Bruhn) with 13 minutes, 19 seconds on the clock in the first half.
• Bellevue ended their scoring drought with a 3-poitner by Martis Johnson with 12 minutes left in first (DSU led 14-10).
• Lamarr Wood and Gairges Daow each made a basket as DSU earned its first double digit lead of the game at 20-10 with 9:22 on the clock.
• Dakota State maintained their lead between 5- and 9-points for the rest of the first half. 
• Jemeil King ended the first half with a jump shot as the Bruins trimmed DSU's lead to 34-29.
• Bellevue shot 42.3 percent (11-of-26 field goals) in the first twenty minutes of the game compared to Dakota State 41.4 percent (12-of-29 field goals). 
• The Bruins held the Trojans scoreless for the first seven minutes of the second half, fueling an 11-0 outburst.  King made a field goal to give BU a 40-34 lead with 13:24 remaining.
• DSU snapped their scoring drought with a 3-point play by Gare Ewefada with 12:52 left, trailing 40-37.
• After Ronnie Latting's basket as Trojans trailed 42-39, the Bruins went on another scoring run.  Bellevue went on to score eight straight points to earn a 50-39 lead, forcing DSU to call timeout with 7:01 left.
• Justin Motley made a field goal with 2:02 remaining as Bellevue grabbed its largest lead of the game at 56-42.
• Down 61-51, Daow drained a 3-pointer to cut BU's lead to 61-54 with less than 25 seconds left. 
• DSU's Ewefada closed the game with a 3-pointer to secure the final score.
• Bellevue outscored Dakota State 34-23 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Bruins shot 46.2 percent from the field (12-of-26 field goals) compared to the Trojans 32 percent (8-of-25 field goals).
• Daow paced DSU with a game-high 22 points (8-of-19 field goals) and grabbed four rebounds.  He stole the ball three times.  Ewefada added 10 points and four rebounds.  He was 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
• Bruhn tallied nine points and five rebounds for the Trojans.  He had three steals.  Wood scored eight points and collected a game-high nine rebounds.  Schipper had six points and four rebounds. 
• King led the Bruins with 16 points (7-of-16 field goals).  Motley added 12 points and eight rebounds.  He had two blocks.  Paulo Araujo had 11 points (6-of-6 free-throws).  Jaylen Wiltz scored 10 points.  Wiltz and Vinny Belcaster each dished out five assists. 
• Bellevue shot 44.2 percent overall from the field (23-of-52 field goals) compared to Dakota State 37 percent (20-of-54 field goals).  The Trojans were 9-of-18 from the 3-point arc, while the Bruins were 7-of-18 3-pointers.
• BU converted 10-of-13 from the free-throw line (76.9 percent).  DSU was 8-of-10 free-throws (80 percent).
• Bellevue outrebounded Dakota State 34-32. 

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director