January 7, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) held the lead for the majority of the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball contest over Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse, holding on to an 81-70 victory.  The Blue Hawks outscored the Trojans 19-7 in points off turnovers and 17-6 in second chance points.

Dakota State fell to 7-10 overall record and 1-2 NSAA conference record.  Dickinson State earned their second straight win to improve their overall record to 6-10 and 2-1 record in the league.

The Trojans begin their North Star's four-game road trip, starting Friday at Mayville State (N.D.) with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off followed by another contest at Presentation (S.D.) next Saturday at 5 p.m.  The Blue Hawks play their first North Star conference home game Friday versus Waldorf (Iowa) and Viterbo (Wis.) next Saturday.

Dickinson State (N.D.) 81, Dakota State (S.D.) 70 – FINAL

• The first twenty minutes of the game saw a back-and-forth battle between Dakota State and Dickinson State.  There were six lead changes and a tie in the first half.
• The Blue Hawks opened the game with a 5-0 lead, highlighted by a 3-pointer by Tyce Dahlberg (assisted by Trey Hladky) with 18:16 on the clock.
• The Trojans answered by making three straight baskets, fueled by a basket by Ben Hoverson followed by back-to-back baskets by Sam Muller.  Muller made a layup to put DaSU up at 6-5, forcing DiSU to burn their first timeout of the game with 16:43 to go in the first half.
• Leading 15-14, Dickinson State went on an 8-2 scoring run to balloon their lead to 23-16 after a 3-pointer by Hladkly with 11:01 to go before halftime.
• Behind 25-20, Dakota State went on an 8-0 scoring run from four different scorers – Muller, Ethan Damerum, Joshua Holloway, and Ronnie Latting.  Latting hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans grabbed a 28-25 lead with 5:45 left in the first half.
• The Blue Hawks answered with a 7-0 run to regain their lead to 32-28 after back-to-back baskets by Hladky with 3:08 on the clock.
• Hoverson drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans earned a 33-32 lead with 2:10 to go in the first (assisted by Latting). 
• Josiah Holland made a basket inside the paint (assisted by Christian Murphy) as DiSU earned a 39-34 lead with 1:12 left in the first half.
• Muller closed the first half with a layup as Dakota State trailed 39-36.
• Dickinson State shot 16-of-30 from the field in the first twenty minutes (53.3 percent) compared to Dakota State 46.9 percent (15-of-32 field goals).
• The Trojans could get no closer than three points at 41-38 after Hoverson's basket inside the paint (assisted by Gavyn Strand) with 18:45 remaining.
• Kose Egbule drained a 3-pointer as the Blue Hawks grabbed their first double digit lead of the game at 52-40 with 14:32 left.
• The Trojans answered with a 9-2 scoring run to trim the Blue Hawks' lead to 54-49 with 10:50 left after Damerum's layup.
• Leading 58-53, Dickinson State went on a 12-2 scoring run to post the biggest lead of the game at 70-55 with 4:15 remaining after Gus Wright's basket (assisted by Murphy).
• The Blue Hawks maintained their double dight lead for the rest of the game to secure the victory.
• DiSU outscored DaSU 42-34 in the second half.  The Blue Hawks were 48.4 percent from the field (15-of-31 field goals) and hit 10-of-12 from the free-throw line.  The Trojans were 46.9 percent from the field (15-of-32 field goals) and 4-of-8 free-throws in the final twenty minutes.
• Muller poured in a season-high 26 points on 11-of-19 field goals and 4-of-8 from the free-throw line.  He produced a double-double with 13 rebounds.  Damerum added a season-high 17 points off the bench.  He also had four rebounds.
• Hoverson tallied seven points, three assists, and two steals for DaSU.  Deshawn Kelly had six points and five rebounds.  Strand contributed four assists. 
• Hladky led the Blue Hawks with 17 points.  Dahlberg and Haaland each added 13 points.  Dahlberg grabbed eight rebounds. 
• John Evans scored nine points and pulled down 10 rebounds for Dickinson State.  Egbule added nine points, five assists, and four steals.  Jaiden Wright had nine points.  Murphy had seven points, five assists, and four rebounds off the bench.
• Dickinson State shot 50.8 percent overall from the field (31-of-61 field goals) compared to Dakota State 46.9 percent (30-of-64 field goals).
• The Blue Hawks were 7-of-24 from the 3-point line and held the Trojans to 1-of-12 from the 3-point arc.
• DiSU hit 12-of-16 from the free-throw line (75 percent), while DaSU struggled by going 9-of-17 free-throws (52.9 percent).
• Both teams pulled down 36 rebounds in the game. 
• The Trojans outscored the Blue Hawks 52-36 inside the paint.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director