November 15, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 15, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (6-3 overall record) looks to extend their six-game winning streak as they play in their second preseason tournament of the season.  The Trojans travel to their North Star Athletic Association's member Bellevue's (Neb.) home court as they compete in the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic at Gordon Lozier Center (1024 Bruin Blvd).

DSU will be playing their first all-time series meeting with a pair of teams in the tournament.  Dakota State kicks off the tournament Friday evening at 5 p.m., taking on Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) (2-5 overall record).  On Saturday, the Trojans take on Ozark Christian (Mo.) with a 3 p.m. tip-off.  DSU then plays an exhibition game on Tuesday at NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato (2-0 overall), tipping off at 5 p.m. at Taylor Center (122 Taylor Center) in Mankato, Minn.

Dakota State went undefeated in the first preseason tournament, the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic, last week in Lawerence, Kan.  The Trojans held on to defeat College of the Ozarks (Mo.) 77-69 on Nov. 9, followed by a 64-58 victory over the host-team Haskell (Kan.) on Nov. 10.  Dakota State returned home on Nov. 13, capturing the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues' thriller over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) by the score of 77-76 after a 3-point field goal by Uzo Dibiamaka at the buzzer. 

Harris-Stowe State fell at home versus Lincoln University of Missouri 84-68 on Nov. 15.  Minnesota State-Mankato went 2-0 record to begin theirs season in the Central Region Challenge on Nov. 10-11 in Kansas City.  

Up Next:   DSU is at home on Nov. 28 (Tuesday), then heads on the road on Nov. 29 and Dec. 2.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) remains undefeated at home this season after their 77-76 thrilling victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the inaugural 'Battle of the Blues', sponsored by BankWest.
+ The Trojans are 2-0 record this season in preseason tournaments.  This will be the second straight weekend that DSU will be playing in a two-day preseason tournament, facing a pair of teams for their first time all-time meeting.
+ Minnesota State-Mankato is 4-0 record all time with Dakota State, including the most recent meeting on Dec. 20, 2021.  The Mavericks were tested by the Trojans, holding on to an 82-73 victory.
+ The all-time series began on Dec. 12, 1989 between MSU-Mankato and DSU.  They met again on Nov. 26, 1993 (MSU-M won 93-86) and again on Nov. 25, 2013.
+ Dakota State had scored exactly 77 points twice in the last three games (77 versus College of the Ozarks on Nov. 9 and 77 versus Dakota Wesleyan on Nov. 13).
+ The Trojans wrap up the November home schedule on Nov. 28 (Tuesday) versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) and conclude their busy month on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Mount Marty (S.D.).
+ Dakota State plays a total of three games in the month of December, visiting NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) on Dec. 2 and Midland (Neb.) on Dec. 13 before concluding the month with a home contest versus Hastings (Neb.) on Dec. 16.
+ The Trojans are 1-1 record on neutral site this season.
 
Noteworthy...
DAKOTA STATE'S WINNING STREAK FUELS BEST START:  Dakota State (S.D.) is currently on a six-game winning streak after starting the season with a 0-3 record.  It is the first time since the 2015-16 season that the Trojans had a six-game winning streak (nine-game winning streak that included the North Star postseason tournament championship game).   DSU also produced its best start for the first time since the 2012-13 season, when the Trojans went 7-2 record to open their nine-game schedule.

TROJANS IN THE NORTH STAR RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday evening, Dakota State ranks third overall with 76.9 points per game in the North Star Athletic Association.  The Trojans are second in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage with 38.0 percent.  Emmanuel Akpan ranks third in the league with 8.5 rebounds per game.  Uhana Ochan is ninth with 8.0 rebounds per game, while Mison Coilton is 10th with 6.7 rebounds per game.

DSU IN EXHIBITION GAMES:   Dakota State is playing an exhibition contest for the third straight year against a member of the NCAA Division II and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  The previous two seasons, the Trojans visited their former conference foe Sioux Falls (S.D.) at the Stewart Center.  DSU is seeking for the last exhibition victory since Nov. 24, 2014, when DSU defeated USF 81-76 in Sioux Falls.
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SEASON UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team fell to 3-2 overall record after falling short at home versus rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 80-78 on Nov. 15.  The Trojans continue their action after Thanksgiving on Nov. 30, hosting Mount Marty (S.D.) in a doubleheader with the women's game.

Pankonen listed in school record in DSU's 77-69 win
Lawrence, Kan. (Nov. 13, 2023)—Brayden Pankonen made his mark in the Dakota State (S.D.) men's basketball Top 10 single-game record book after fueling to a 77-69 victory over College of the Ozarks (Mo.) on the first day of the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic, hosted by Haskell (Kan.) at Coffin Sports Complex.

The Trojans shot 50.9 percent overall from the field, thanks to Pankonen 8-of-10 field goal shooting and 7-of-9 from the 3-point arc.  His 3-point field goals is tied for seventh in the single-game school record book.  His 77.8 percent from the 3-point line is the sixth best single game 3-point field goal percentage in a single game.

Dakota State led 42-37 by halftime and outscored the Bobcats 35-32 in the final twenty minutes of the game to extend their winning streak to four games.

Emmanuel Akpan scored eight points and collected a game-high 11 rebounds for the Trojans.  He also had two blocked shots in the game.  Kenny Haynes scored nine points off the bench.  Mason Coilton contributed four assists and three steals.

The Trojans shot 28-of-55 overall from the field, including 12-of-23 from the 3-point line.  DSU outrebounded the Bobcats 35-28, outscoring CO 10-4 in second chance points.

DSU holds off host-team Haskell (Kan.) 64-58
Lawrence, Kan. (Nov. 10, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) earned a double-digit halftime lead at 38-27 over host-team Haskell (Kan.) in the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic at Coffin Sports Complex.  The Trojans held off the Fighting Indians' second-half comeback, securing a 64-58 victory for the fifth straight win. 

Despite struggling to score in the opening minutes of the game, the Trojans earned the first lead of the game after Ethan Slaathaug's pair of free-throws with 17:28 on the clock.  Knotted at 24-24, Dakota State went on a 14-0 outburst for the biggest lead of the game at 38-24 with 1:16 left in the first half. 

DSU maintained their lead for the rest of the game to secure their victory.  Haskell could get no closer than three points at 61-58 with less than 35 seconds to go in the game.

Emmanuel Akpan posted a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds for DSU.  Brayden Pankonen added 12 points.  Mison Coilton had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  Japjit Gill had eight points and seven rebounds.

DSU shot 38.2 percent from the field (21-of-55) to HU 35.3 percent from the field (24-of-68).

Dakota State wins 'Battle of the Blues' thriller
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 13, 2023)—Facing a 76-74 deficit with 1.2 seconds remaining, Uzo Dibiamaka drained a game-winning 3-pointer as Dakota State (S.D.) earned a 77-76 thrilling victory over rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in the 'Battle of the Blues', sponsored by BankWest, at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans ballooned their winning streak to six games, the longest since the 2015-16 season.

The game featured 18 lead changes, nine ties, and a lead no greater than seven points by the Trojans (Tigers' greatest lead was five points).  Dakota State held a slim 35-34 halftime advantage over Dakota Wesleyan.  Both teams scored 42 points in the final twenty minutes of the game. 

DSU used a balanced scoring attack with five players in double digits, led by Dibiamaka with 14 points and five rebounds.  Japjit Gill added 13 points.  Mison Coilton scored 12 points and collected seven rebounds.  Emmanuel Akpan and Josh Lewis each scored 10 points off the point.  Kenny Haynes had nine points.

The Trojans were 51.7 percent from the field (31-of-60) compared to the Tigers 42.4 percent (28-of-66).

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 127 points (12.8 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 59.3 percent (41-of-71 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 35.1 percent (34-of-75 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Japjit Gill - 76.2 percent (16-of-21 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanuel Akpan - 63 rebounds (8.0 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 337 assists (3.7 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 17 steals (1.9 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Uhana Ochan - 8 blocks (1.6 blocks per game)

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