November 9, 2023

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) began their first day of the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic Thursday evening, extending their season-high winning streak to four games with a 77-69 victory over College of the Ozarks (Mo.) at Coffin Sports Complex.  The Trojans shot 50.9 percent overall from the field, highlighted by Brayden Pankonen's season-high 25 points in the game.

Dakota State raised their overall record to 4-3, the first time since the 2021-22 season that the Trojans had won four consecutive games.  College of the Ozarks fell to 1-2 overall record.  Both teams were playing their first ever all-time meeting.

The Trojans continue their action on the second day of the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic Friday evening.  DSU takes on the host-team Haskell (Kan.) with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Coffin Sports Complex.

Dakota State (S.D.) 77, College of the Ozarks (Mo.) 69 – FINAL

Kyle Flavin scored the first four points of the game to give the Bobcats a 4-0 lead with eighteen minutes and four seconds on the clock.

Dakota State would erupt for 16 straight points combined by Pankonen, Ethan Slaathaug, Kenny Haynes, and Mison Coilton.  Pankonen capped the 16-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer for 16-4 DSU lead with 13:52 left in the first half.

Haynes drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Slaathaug) for the biggest lead of the game at 29-12, expanding their scoring outburst to 29-8 with less than nine minutes to go before halftime.

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead, regaining the biggest lead of the game at 40-23 after a layup by Uhana Ochan (assisted by Japjit Gil) with 3:55 on the clock in the first half.

College of the Ozarks closed the first half with a 14-2 run, including 12 straight points.  Flavin closed the first half with a basket, cutting the Trojans' lead to 42-37 by halftime.

Dakota State shot a blazing 55.2 percent from the field (16-of-29 field goals), including 7-of-13 from the 3-point line in the first half.  College of the Ozarks was 16-of-34 from the field (47.1 percent) and 3-of-10 from the 3-point line.

The Trojans led for the rest of the game, holding off the Bobcats' run in the second half.  College of the Ozarks go with in two points at 45-43 after Garrett Snyder's basket with 17:49 remaining.

DSU then went on a 6-0 run, capped by a 3-point play by Emmanuel Akpan for a 51-43 lead with 16:37 to go.  The Bobcats trimmed the Trojans' lead to 51-49 with 15:31 on the clock, then the Trojans went on another 7-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 58-51 with less than 14 minutes to go.

The Bobcats could get no closer than two points for the third time in the second half at 71-69 after a layup by Jay Baxter with 1:59 remaining.

Gill hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Pankonen) to pull DSU away with 1:25 left, igniting a 6-0 closing run.  Pankonen added a pair of free-throws, while Coilton added a free-throw to secure the victory.

Dakota State outscored College of the Ozarks 35-32 in the second half.

Pankonen was 8-of-10 from the field, including 7-of-9 from the 3-point arc for Dakota State.  His 3-point field goals tied for seventh in the DSU men's basketball single-game record book.  His 77.8 percent from the 3-point arc is the sixth best single-game 3-point field goal percentage.  Slaathaug added 11 points.

Akpan scored eight points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds for the Trojans.  He also had two blocked shots in the game.  Haynes scored nine points off the bench.  Gill, Coilton, Josh Lewis, and Ochan each had six points.  Ochan collected six rebounds.  Coilton had four assists and three steals.

Snyder led College of the Ozarks with 20 points on his 9-of-19 field goals.  He grabbed seven rebounds and contributed four assists.  Flavin added 18 points on his 8-of-12 field goals.  Baxter had nine points and nine rebounds.  Seth Soden scored 10 points off the bench.

Dakota State shot 28-of-55 overall from the field, including 12-of-23 from the 3-point line.  DSU was 9-of-14 from the free-throw line.  College of the Ozarks was 44.8 percent from the field (30-of-67 field goals) and 5-of-24 from the 3-point line.  The Bobcats were 4-of-7 from the free-throw line.

The Trojans outrebounded the Bobcats 25-28 in the game.  DSU outscored CO 10-4 in second chance points and 21-15 in bench points.