November 10, 2023
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Dakota State (S.D.) grabbed a 38-27 halftime lead over host-team Haskell (Kan.) on the second day of the Erine Stevens, Jr., Classic Friday evening at Coffin Sports Complex. The Trojans held off the Fighting Indians' second-half comeback, extending their winning streak to five games after a 64-58 victory.
After a 0-3 start, Dakota State is at 5-3 overall record. DSU's five-game winning streak is the longest since the 2015-16 season when the Trojans won nine consecutive games which included winning the North Star postseason tournament championship game and advanced to the national tournament.
Haskell, a member of the Continental Athletic Conference, remained winless in five games (0-5 overall record). The Trojans finished the tournament undefeated with a 2-0 record and earned their second straight victory in the series meeting with the Fighting Indians (defeated HU in the Bellevue, Neb. Holiday Tournament on a buzzer beater by the score of 55-54 last season).
Dakota State looks to balloon their winning streak Monday evening as they return home at DSU Fieldhouse. The Trojans host rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) for their second meeting of the season. The Battle of the Blues, sponsored by BankWest, will be held with the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
Dakota State (S.D.) 64, Haskell (Kan.) 58 – FINAL
Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes of the game, with no score through two-and-half minutes. The Trojans grabbed the first lead of the game at 2-0 after a pair of free-throws by
Ethan Slaathaug with 17:28 on the clock.
Isiah Storm drained a 3-pointer to open a 9-5 lead with 15:19 on the clock in the first half for the Fighting Indians.
Both teams traded leads or tied the game for the next ten-plus minutes of the game. Tied at 24-24,
Uzo Dibiamaka sparked DSU's 14-0 outburst with a 3-pointer.
Japjit Gill capped the Trojans' scoring run with a pair of free-throws for the biggest lead of the game at 38-24 with 1:16 left before halftime.
Haskell snapped their four-and-half plus minutes scoring drought with a 3-pointer from Justin Curley, trimming the Trojans' lead to 38-27 by halftime.
DSU was 41.9 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (13-of-31 field goals) and 6-of-15 from the 3-point arc. HU was 36.7 percent from the field (11-of-30 field goals) and 5-of-12 from the 3-point line.
Dakota State maintained their lead between six- and 11-points for the first 12-plus minutes of the second half. Dibiamaka made a layup with 9:29 remaining to put the Trojans up 53-42.
Preston Olney highlighted Haskell's 7-0 scoring run with five straight points, cutting DSU's lead to 53-49 after a 3-pointer with 7:45 left in the game.
The Trojans answered with a 6-0 scoring run, capped with a 3-pointer from
Brayden Pankonen for 59-49 lead with 5:38 to go.
HU could get no closer than three points a 61-58 after a 3-pointer by Tate Bear with less than 35 seconds to go. Gill hit a free-throw followed by a pair of free-throws by Pankonen to secure the victory.
Haskell outscored Dakota State 31-26 in the final twenty minutes of the game.
Emmanuel Akpan produced a double-double of 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for DSU. He was 6-of-8 from the field and registered two blocked shots. Pankonen added 12 points, thanks to his 6-of-6 free-throws.
Mison Coilton had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Gill scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds for the Trojans. Dibiamaka had five points and four steals off the bench.
Kenny Haynes also had five points and five rebounds.
Josh Lewis and
Uhana Ochan each had four points. Lewis recorded six rebounds and three steals.
Bear led the Fighting Indians with 19 points and eight rebounds. He was 7-of-14 from the field. Olney added 12 points. Bansi King had 10 points. Storm tallied six points and three rebounds. King and Derek Havern each had four rebounds. Nehemiah Boykins had eight rebounds.
Dakota State shot 38.2 percent overall from the field (21-of-55 field goals) and 7-of-20 from the 3-point line. The Trojans converted 13-of-20 free-throws. Haskell was 35.3 percent from the field (24-of-68 field goals), 7-of-26 3-pointers (26.9 percent) and 3-of-4 free-throws.
DSU outrebounded HU 39-36 in the game.
