October 31, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Oct. 31, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (0-2 overall record) continues their busy non-conference schedule with four games in five-day span.  The Trojans return to the Sanford Sports Complex at the Pentagon (2210 W Pentagon Pl.) for their annual match-up with Dordt (Iowa) (1-0, receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll).  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D. 

DSU stays on the road Thursday evening, traveling to NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.).  The game is set for 7 p.m. at LSC Gymnasium on the campus of Martin Luther (1995 Luther Ct.) in New Ulm, Minn.  Dakota State plays their season home opener with a pair of games against Providence (Manitoba) on Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.  Both games will be played at DSU Fieldhouse (1302 N. Washington Ave.).

Former head coach Gary Garner coached his final season at Dakota State last season (2022-23), completing with an overall record of 12-18 and 6-8 record in the North Star Athletic Association contests.  The Trojans finished sixth in the North Star Athletic Association and fell to Dickinson State (N.D.) 72-60 in the opening round.

Dakota State will be playing a total of seven games against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference this season, including a pair of games with Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  DSU will also face Dordt (Iowa), Mount Marty (S.D.), Midland (Neb.), and Hastings on their non-conference schedule.

Up Next:   Dakota State heads to Lawrence, Kan., for a two-day Haskell (Kan.) Classic on Nov. 9-10.  The Trojans return home on Monday, Nov. 13, for their second meeting with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.

This Week's Quick Hits
 + Dakota State (S.D.) and Dordt (Iowa) are playing on the Sanford Sports Complex Pentagon for the second straight year.  The Defenders won the last meeting in Sioux Falls by the score of 74-63.
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over the Defenders since Jan. 9, 2013 (DSU defeated DU 83-65 at DSU Fieldhouse).
+ Dakota State is meeting NCAA Division III for the first time since Dec. 12, 2013, where it was held at DSU Fieldhouse.  The last time it was held in New Ulm, Minn., was on Dec. 1, 2012.  DSU won both meetings.
+ The Trojans open their 11-game home schedule at DSU Fieldhouse with back-to-back contests with Providence (Manitoba).  This will be the first-ever meeting with the Pilots. 
+ Dakota State is playing their third opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference on Wednesday.  The Trojans will have four more games against members of the GPAC after Wednesday's contest with Dordt.
+ DSU is preparing for a pair of preseason tournaments next week and two weeks later.  The Trojans compete in the Haskell (Kan.) Classic on Nov. 9-10 and Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic hosted by Bellevue (Neb.) on Nov. 17-18.
+ Dakota State is averaging 73.5 points per game, both on the road after their contests at Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Oct. 26 and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Oct. 29.
+ The Trojans kick off their 12-game November schedule, including four games this week.  The 12-game November slate also included an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato on Nov. 21.

Noteworthy...
DAKOTA STATE SEEKING FOR FIRST WIN AT PENTAGON SINCE NAIA CLASSIC:  Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first win at the Sanford Sports Complex Pentagon since the NAIA South Dakota Classic with Presentation (S.D.), Mount Marty (S.D.), and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (NSAA conference vs. GPAC conference).  The last time DSU won at the Pentagon was on Nov. 4, 2017, where the Trojans defeated the Lancers by the score of 71-64.

UPCOMING PRESEASON TOURNAMENTS:  Dakota State is set to play in a pair of preseason tournaments in November.  The Trojans play in the Haskell (Kan.) Classic on Nov. 9-10, facing the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) on Nov. 9 and host-team Haskell (Kan.) on Nov. 10.  DSU also plays in the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic on the following weekend, facing Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) on Nov. 17 and Ozark Christian (Mo.) on Nov. 18 om Bellevue, Neb.

TROJANS ON THE ROAD:   Dakota State is averaging 73.5 points per game on the road this season.  The Trojans play a total of 13 games on the road this season, not including four neutral contests.  DSU's road schedule included six North Star Athletic Association contests through four different states (North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska).
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM OPENS SEASON WITH WIN:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team kicked off their season with a 95-67 road victory over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) at the Corn Palace on Oct. 30.  The Trojans continue their action on Tuesday (tonight) at Northwestern (Iowa) and play their first home game on Monday versus Dordt (Iowa).

Chargers defeat Trojans in season opener
Sioux City, Iowa (Oct. 31, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to overcome Briar Cliff's (Iowa) red-hot 63 percent field goal percentage, falling 94-80 as the 2023-24 NAIA Men's Basketball season officially began at Newman Flanagan Center.

DSU and BCU went through a closely tight contest through the first three-and-half minutes.  Trailing 11-10, DSU made three straight baskets as part of their 7-0 scoring run for a 17-11 lead after Kenny Haynes' 3-pointer.  BCU answered with a 15-2 outburst and never trailed for the rest of the game.

Briar Cliff led 44-36 by halftime, thanks to their 59.3 percent field goal shooting in the first half.  DSU was 50 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes.  The Trojans could get no closer than eight points early in the second half at 46-38.  The Chargers outscored DSU 50-44 in the final twenty minutes.      

Five Trojan players scored in double digits, led by Haynes with 15 points.  Japjit Gill added 13 points.  Emmanuel Akpan had 12 point and four rebounds.  Mison Coilton scored 12 points and dished out four assists.  Ethan Slaathaug had 10 points and stole the ball four times.  Onias Outlaw had nine points.

Briar Cliff shot 34-of-54 from the field compared to Dakota State 49.2 percent overall (32-of-65 field goals).  The Chargers were 20-of-29 free-throws to the Trojans 13-of-18 free-throws. 

Dakota State could not overcome DWU's late run
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 29, 2023)—Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) used a late 27-10 scoring run to pull away past Dakota State (S.D.) 82-67 at the Corn Palace.  Both teams went through a closely tight contests through the first thirty-plus minutes before the Tigers made a late scoring outburst.

A total of five ties and four lead changes were registered in the first twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans shot 42.4 percent from the field in the first half (14-of-33 field goals) compared to the Tigers 37.1 percent (13-of-35 field goals), as DSU held on to a slim 36-35 lead.

DSU led 57-55 with 10:13 remaining in the game before DWU went on a 19-3 scoring run to overtake a 74-60 lead with four minutes to go.  The Tigers outscored the Trojans 47-31 in the second-half.

Mison Coilton tallied a season-high 18 points off the bench for Dakota State.  He also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.  Ethan Slaathaug recorded career-highs of 17 points and seven rebounds.  Japjit Gill had nine points, five rebounds, and three assists.  Calvin Payne grabbed eight rebounds.

DWU shot 44.1 percent from the field (30-of-68 field goals) compared to DSU 38.2 percent (26-of-68 field goals).  Both teams made 11 3-pointers in the game.  DSU outrebounded DWU 45-39.

Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 31, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Ethan Slaathaug is second in the North Star Athletic Association in 3-piont field goal percentage (75.0 percent) for Dakota State (S.D.).  Emmanuel Akpan is tied for fourth best in the league in field goal percentage with 66.7 percent (8-of-12 field goals).

Mison Coilton averages 14.5 points per game this season for the Trojans, which is tied for eighth best scoring average in the NSAA conference.  He is also tied for eighth in the league with 6.0 rebounds per game.  He is tied for 10th in the conference with 3.0 assists per game for the Trojans.  Slaathaug is 11th in the North Star with 13.5 points per game and 13th in field goal percentage (57.9 percent—11-of-19 field goals).

Dakota State is fifth in the North Star with 73.5 points per game, offensively.  The Trojans are fourth in the league with 36.0 rebounds per game.   DSU ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association with 28.0 defensive rebounds per game.

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 29 points (14.5 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 66.7 percent (8-of-12 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Ethan Slaathaug - 75.0 percent (3-of-4 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Calvin Payne - 100.0 percent (2-of-2 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Mison Coilton - 12 rebounds (6.0 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 6 assists (3.0 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Ethan Slaathaug - 5 steals (2.5 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Taylor Edwards, Mison Coilton - 1 block (1.0 block per game)

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