November 17, 2023

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Dakota State (S.D.) raced to the biggest lead of the game midway through the first half over Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) on the first day of the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic Friday evening at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  Despite falling behind 70-62, the Trojans closed the game by holding the Hornets in the final 5:33 to earn a 78-72 victory.

DSU ballooned their season-high winning streak to seven games, raising their overall record to 7-3.  HSS fell to 2-7 overall record.  It was the first all-time series meeting between the two teams.

Dakota State wraps up the two-day tournament Saturday afternoon, taking on Ozark Christian (Mo.) with a 3 p.m. tip-off.

Dakota State (S.D.) 78, Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 72 – FINAL

After the game went scoreless in the first two-plus minutes, Dakota State hit three straight 3-pointers from three different scorers (Japjit Gill, Brayden Pankonen, and Mison Coilton) to open a 9-0 lead with 16:09 on the clock.

The Hornets answered with a 5-0 scoring run to trim the Trojans' lead to 9-5 with 15:07 to go in the first half, capped by a basket by Valdy Zephir.

Dakota State then went on a 19-7 scoring tear in next six-plus minutes, capped by a 3-pointer from Coilton (assisted by Uzo Dibiamaka) for the biggest lead at 28-12 with 8:34 to go before halftime.

Gill drained a 3-pointer for another biggest lead of the game at 31-15 with 7:46 on the clock in the first half.

The Trojans maintained their double-digit lead until the Hornets used a 16-5 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Seth Chargois with 1:47 left in the first (DSU led 36-31).

Dakota State led 40-33 by halftime, highlighted by hitting nine 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes. 

DSU ballooned their lead to 51-38 after starting the second half with an 11-5 run.  The Trojans capped the scoring run by hitting three straight 3-pointers from Pankonen and followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from Gill with 17:50 remaining.

With DSU leading 55-48, the Hornets went on an 18-5 outburst capped by a free-throw from Seth Chargois for a 66-60 lead with 7:47 left.

Harris-Stowe State widened their lead to 70-62 after a basket by Chargois with 5:33 left.

DSU ignited a 16-2 closing run in the final 5:33 of the game to secure the victory, sparked by six straight points from Emmanuel Akpan.

Anthony Bell II hit a pair of free-throws to knot the game at 72-72 with 1:30 left, but the Trojans closed the game with six straight points from three different scorers (Dibiamaka, Coilton, and Gill).

The Hornets outscored the Trojans 39-38 in the second half. 

Akpan highlighted Dakota State with a double-double of 15 points and pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds.  He was 5-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.  His 19 rebounds tied for fourth most single-game rebounds in DSU men's basketball record book.

Gill added 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists for the Trojans.  He was 4-of-8 from the 3-point line.  Coilton scored 10 points, six rebounds, and stole the game four times.  Pankonen had 12 points and dished out five assists. 

Kenny Haynes tallied nine points off the bench for DSU.  Dibiamaka and Uhana Ochan each added six points.  Dibiamaka pulled down 10 rebounds and registered three blocks.

Chargois poured in 24 points and grabbed six rebounds for Harris-Stowe State.  He was 10-of-20 from the field.  Patrick Evans added 13 points and four rebounds.  Ken Martin had eight points and three assists.  Bell II contributed a game-high 11 assists.

Dakota State shot 40.9 percent from the field (27-of-66 field goals) compared to Harris-Stowe State 41.4 percent (29-of-70 field goals).  The Trojans hit 12 3-pointers in 31 tries, while the Hornets were 8-of-23 3-pointers.

DSU hit 12-of-16 free-throws (75 percent).  HSS was 6-of-9 from the free-throw line (66.7 percent).

The Trojans pulled down a season high 52 rebounds in the game compared to the Hornets 30 rebounds.  Dakota State outscored Harris-Stowe State 15-4 in second chance points.