November 18, 2023

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) used a balanced scoring attack with 11 different players scored in the game on the second day of the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic, rolling to their season-high eighth straight victory over Ozark Christian (Mo.) at Gordon Lozier Center.  The Trojans won by the score of 82-52 in their first-ever all-time series meeting with the Ambassadors.

DSU's eight-game winning streak ties for the second longest in the school record book with the 1990-91 squad, one game shy of tying the school record of nine straight wins in 2015-16.  The Trojans lifted their overall record to 8-3 on the season.  The Ambassadors fell to 1-4 overall record.

Dakota State steps aside their regular season play as they visit NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato Tuesday evening.  Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. at Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn.

Dakota State (S.D.) 82, Ozark Christian (Mo.) 52 – FINAL

The Trojans grabbed their first lead of the game after a layup by Mison Coilton, followed by a pair of free-throws by Uzo Dibiamaka for a 4-0 lead with eighteen minutes and eight seconds on the clock.

OZU rallied back to knot the game at 4-4 with 17:03 to go in the first half after Dillon Bycroft's basket. 

Magal Chol-Case drained a 3-pointer as the Ambassadors trimmed DSU's lead to 15-12 with 10:24 remaining before halftime.

Dakota State erupted for 12 straight points to balloon their lead to 27-12 after a pair of free-throws by Emmanuel Akpan with 7:48 left in the first half.

The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the first half, leading as many as 24 at 44-20 after a basket by Akpan (assisted by Japjit Gill) with less than ten seconds left.

DSU shot 14-of-35 from the field (40 percent) and hit all 12 free-throw attempts in the first half.  Ozark Christian was limited to 21.4 percent from the field (6-of-28 field goals) in the first twenty minutes.

Dakota State never trailed in the game, maintaining their double-digit lead in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Trojans posted their biggest lead of the game when Issac Sumption hit a fast-break layup (assisted by Josh Lewis) for a 79-48 lead with 1:36 remaining.

DSU outscored OZU 38-32 in the second half.

Four Dakota State players scored in double digits, led by Akpan with 14 points.  He was 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.  He grabbed eight rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen added 12 points and four steals. 

Dibiamaka and Uhana Ochan each scored 10 points for the Trojans.  Dibiamaka had nine rebounds and four assists.  Ochan added seven rebounds.

Gill tallied eight points, five rebounds, and three assists for Dakota State.  Coilton had seven points and six rebounds.  Kenny Haynes scored six points and pulled down nine rebounds.  Lewis and Sumption each recorded five points.  Lewis dished out five assists and stole the ball five times.

Andre Johnson led the Ambassadors with 10 points and six rebounds.  Joel Pugh added nine points and four rebounds.  Dillon Bycroft and Chol-Chase each scored seven points.  Bycroft had nine rebounds.  Danny Foster and Chol-Case each had six rebounds. 

Dakota State was 38.3 percent overall from the field (31-of-81 field goals) compared to Ozark Christian 31.7 percent (20-of-63 field goals).  The Trojans were 7-of-27 3-pointers, while the Ambassadors hit 3-of-25 3-pointers. 

The Trojans converted 13-of-15 free-throws (86.7 percent).  The Ambassadors were 9-of-10 free-throws.

DSU grabbed 53 rebounds in the game compared to OZU 41 rebounds.  Dakota State outscored Ozark Christian 17-4 in points off turnovers, 15-4 in fast break points, and 31-16 in bench points.