November 13, 2023

MADISON, S.D. – Randy Rosenquist, Jr. hit a jump shot to give Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) a 76-74 lead with 3.3 seconds remaining in the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues' traveling trophy, sponsored by BankWest, Monday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State (S.D.) answered with a game-winning 3-pointer by Uzo Dibiamaka (assisted by Brayden Pankonen) at the buzzer, earning a 77-76 thrilling victory.

The game featured 18 lead changes, nine ties, and a lead no greater than seven points by the Trojans (Tigers' biggest lead of the game was five points).

Dakota State ballooned their winning streak to six games, the longest since 2015-16 (nine straight wins), and raised their overall record to 6-3.  Dakota Wesleyan suffered its first setback of the season, falling to 3-1.  The teams split their season series meeting (DWU won the first meeting on Oct. 29 at the Corn Palace).

The victory also ended DSU's 11-game losing skid in the series meeting, with the last victory coming on Jan. 2, 2017, at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State remained undefeated at home this season with a 3-0 record.

Dakota State plays in another preseason tournament this weekend, playing in the two-day Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic hosted by North Star Athletic Association's member Bellevue (Neb.).  The Trojans face Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) Friday at 5 p.m. and Ozark Christian (Mo.) Saturday at 3 p.m.

Dakota State (S.D.) 77, Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 76 – FINAL

Mison Coilton hit a pair of free-throws to give Dakota State their first lead of the game at 2-0 with eighteen minutes and forty-one seconds on the clock.

DSU and DWU went through five ties and five lead changes in the next five minutes before the Trojans made a scoring run.  Trailing 13-12, the Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring run to open a 19-13 lead after a layup by Japjit Gill and forced the Tigers to call their first timeout of the game with 12:29 to go in the first half.

Dakota Wesleyan answered with a 9-0 outburst to regain their lead at 22-19 with 8:32 on the clock in the first half, thanks to seven straight points from Ethan Determan.

Tiger Jakob Dobney completed a 4-point play to close the first half, as the Trojans maintained a slim 35-34 halftime lead.

DSU was 53.3 percent from the field in the first half (16-of-30 field goals) compared to DWU 41.4 percent (12-of-29 field goals).  There was a total of 10 ties and five lead changes in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Emmanuel Akpan and Brayden Pankonen each hit a pair of free-throws followed by Coilton's basket ignited 6-0 second half opening run, extending DSU's lead to 41-34 with 19 minutes to go in the game.

Dakota Wesleyan regained their lead at 50-47 after using an 11-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Rosenquist, Jr.  The Trojans were forced to call a timeout with 13:08 to go.

DSU and DWU went through a tightly close second half, with the Tigers leading by as many as five points.  Behind at 68-63, the Trojans went on a 7-1 scoring run to earn a 70-69 lead with less than two minutes remaining after Akpan's two free-throws.
Each team traded leads until the game was knotted at 74-74 after a pair of free-throws by Akpan with 33.3 seconds left.

Rosenquist, Jr. hit a jump shot to give the Tigers a 76-74 lead with 3.3 seconds remaining.  DSU threw a long pass from the back court to the front court and was deflected out of bounds by the Tigers with 1.2 seconds remaining.

Pankonen threw a pass from the out of bound to Dibiamaka as he shot the game-winning 3-pointer from behind the arc for Dakota State.

Both teams scored 42 points in the final twenty minutes of the game.  DSU shot 50 percent from the field (15-of-30 field goals), including a perfect 3-of-3 from the 3-point arc.  DWU was 43.2 percent from the field (16-of-37 field goals) and 7-of-12 from the 3-point arc.

Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with five players in double digits.  Dibiamaka scored 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.  He also had two blocked shots.  Gill added 13 points.  Coilton had 12 points and seven rebounds.  Akpan and Josh Lewis each had 10 points and five rebounds.  Kenny Haynes scored nine points off the bench.

Uhana Ochan recorded seven points, six rebounds, two blocked shots, and stole the ball twice for the Trojans.  Lewis had three steals. 

Determan poured in a game-high 26 points on his 10-of-15 field goals and 3-of-3 free-throws for Dakota Wesleyan.  Jakob Dobney had 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists.  Rosenquist, Jr., tallied 14 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. 

Samuel Aslesen had six rebounds, four blocked shots, three assists, and two steals for DWU.  Kaden Year pulled down seven rebounds.

Dakota State shot 51.7 percent overall from the field (31-of-60 field goals) and 4-of-12 from the 3-point line.  Dakota Wesleyan was 42.4 percent (28-of-66 field goals), including 10-of-26 3-pointers.

DSU was 11-of-14 free-throws compared to DWU 10-of-13 free-throws. 

The Trojans had a slim 36-35 rebounding advantage over the Tigers. 

Dakota State outscored Dakota Wesleyan 16-8 in points off turnovers, and 48-26 inside the paint.