November 26, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 26, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (8-3 overall record) carries their eight-game winning streak with three games scheduled for this week, eyeing for a potential school record in winning streak.  The Trojans return home Tuesday evening versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) (4-2 overall record) with a 7 p.m. tip-off at DSU Fieldhouse (1302 N. Washington Ave.).  

Dakota State then heads on the road the next day Wednesday, visiting in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) (1-5).  The game is tentatively slated for a 7:45 p.m. tip-off at Cimpl Arena (1105 W 8th Street) in Yankton, S.D.  DSU wraps up the week with a road contest at NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) (5-0 overall record) on Saturday evening.  The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. in St. Bonifacius, Minn. at the Athletic Center (8700 College View Dr.) on the campus of Crown.

Dakota State went undefeated 2-0 record in another preseason tournament.  The Trojans defeated Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) 78-72 on Nov. 17 and Ozark Christian (Mo.) 82-52 on Nov. 18 in the Fairfield Inn by Marriot Bruin Classic in Bellevue, Neb.  The Trojans dropped an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Minnesota State-Mankato on Nov. 20.

Trinity Bible went 0-2 record in exhibition contests in the NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) Classic on Nov. 24-25, falling to Mary (N.D.) and host-team NSU.  Mount Marty remained winless in conference play after falling to Doane (Neb.) on Nov. 21.  Crown held on to stay undefeated after defeating Luther (Iowa) 58-56 on Nov. 25.

Up Next:   DSU is idle until Dec. 13 at Midland (Neb.) and returns home on Dec. 16 versus Hastings (Neb.). 

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) looks to wrap up the month of November undefeated at home, holding a 3-0 record after sweeping Providence (Manitoba) on Nov. 4-5 and held on to defeat rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 77-76 on Nov. 13.
+ DSU matched its best 11-game start since the 2012-13 season (the Trojans were 9-2 record after their 61-59 victory over 19th-ranked Bellevue, Neb. squad at DSU Fieldhouse on Dec. 21, 2012).
+ The Trojans had scored at least 85 points in the previous three meetings with Trinity Bible (N.D.).  DSU won the last meeting on Dec. 6, 2022, by the score of 90-66 in Ellendale, N.D.
+ Dakota State had won 17 times in the last 20 meetings with in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.), including last year's 98-66 road victory in Yankton, S.D. 
+ The Trojans had won seven straight meetings at Cimpl Arena since the 2009-10 season.
+ Dakota State is meeting NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) for the first time since Nov. 21, 2003.  Crown held on to defeat the Trojans by the score of 75-74.
+ The Trojans are 1-0 record against member of NCAA Division III and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (defeated Martin Luther, Minn., 77-65 on Nov. 2.
+ Dakota State is 8-1 record during the month of November, despite a setback to Dordt (Iowa) at the Sanford Pentagon on Nov. 1, and then reeled off eight consecutive wins.
 
Noteworthy...
TROJANS LOOK TO BREAK SCHOOL RECORD:  Dakota State (S.D.) is currently on an eight-game winning streak, which ties for the second best winning streak in the men's basketball school record book with the 1990-91 squad.  The school record for consecutive wins is nine (9) straight wins from the 2015-16 squad, which included winning the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament to earn an automatic bid to the national tournament.

REBOUNDS SINGLE-GAME RECORD:  Emmanuel Akpan was listed in the DSU men's basketball single-game 'Top 10' record book after their 78-72 victory over Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) on Nov. 17.  He grabbed 19 rebounds, which is tied for fourth most single game rebounds in the record book with Miguel Sansavour ( AIB, Iowa, on Dec. 17, 2013), Brett Schwartz (Buena Vista, Iowa in 1989-90), Mike Traphagen (twice in 1979-80—Dakota Wesleyan and Mount Marty), and Cliff Anderson (versus Dordt, Iowa, in 1971-72).

LOOKING AHEAD TO DECEMBER:   Dakota State kicks off the month of December with three games on their schedule.  The Trojans make a trip to St. Bonifacius, Minn., to take on NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) on Dec. 2 and stays on the road on Dec. 13 as they visit Midland (Neb.).  DSU concludes the 2023 portion of the schedule at home on Dec. 16 versus Hastings (Neb.).  The NSAA conference action begins on Jan. 6.
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SEASON UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team was idle last week with Thanksgiving break, remaining at 3-2 overall record.  The Trojans continue their home stand Thursday evening, hosting Mount Marty (S.D.) in the women's/men's basketball doubleheader at 6/7:30 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Trojans hang on for 7th straight win over Hornets
Bellevue, Neb. (Nov. 17, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) raced to the biggest lead of the game in the first half and held off Harris-Stowe's (Mo.) furious second half comeback to hang on for a 78-72 victory at Gordon Lozier Center on the first day of the Bruin Classic.

The Trojans kicked off the game by hitting three straight 3-pointers to open a 9-0 lead with 16:09 on the clock.  DSU registered its biggest lead of the game at 31-15 with 7:46 to go in the first half.  Dakota State led 40-33 by halftime.  The Hornets over took the lead at 66-60 after an 18-5 outburst and widen their lead to 70-62 with 5:33 remaining in the game.  DSU sparked a 16-2 closing run in the final 5:33 of the game to secure the victory, holding HSC to no field goals during that span.

Emmanuel Akpan highlighted DSU with a double-double of 15 points and pulled down a season-high 19 rebounds.  Japjit Gill added 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists.  Mison Coilton scored six points, earned six rebounds, and stole the ball four times.  Brayden Pankonen had 12 points and five assists.  Kenney Haynes had nine points off the bench. 

Dakota State shot 40.9 percent from the field (27-of-66 field goals) compared to Harris-Stowe 41.4 percent (29-of-70 field goals).  DSU hit 12 3-pointers in the game.  The Trojans had collected 52 rebounds.

DSU rolls to eighth straight win with 30-point victory
Bellevue, Neb. (Nov. 18, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) used a balanced scoring attack with 11 different players scored in the game, routing Ozark Christian (Mo.) 82-52 on the second day of the Bruin Classic at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  DSU extended their winning streak to eight games.

Leading 15-12, DSU erupted for 12 points to balloon their lead to 27-12 with 7:48 to go in the first half.  The Trojans led 44-20 by halftime and never trailed for the first of the game.  Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead in the second half, outscoring Ozark Christian 38-32 in the final twenty minutes. 

Four DSU players scored in double digits, led by Emmanuel Akpan with 14 points.  He grabbed eight rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen added 12 points and stole the ball four times.  Uzo Dibiamaka and Uhana Ochan each scored 10 points.  Dibiamaka had nine rebounds and dished out four assists.  Ochan added seven rebounds.  Japjit Gill tallied eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Dakota State was 38.3 percent overall from the field (31-of-81 field goals) and held Ozark Christian to 31.7 percent (20-of-63 field goals).  The Trojans collected a season-high 53 rebounds in the game.

Dakota State in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 26, 2023)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Sunday, Emmanuel Akpan averages 9.3 rebounds per game for Dakota State.  His 9.3 rebounds per game ranks third best average in the North Star Athletic Association. 

Uhana Ochan also ranks eighth in the NSAA with 7.1 rebounds per game for the Trojans.   DSU is second in the North Star conference in rebounding margin with a plus 5.5 rebounds margin.

Dakota State is fourth in the league in scoring average with 77.5 points per game.  The Trojans are third in defensive scoring with 72.3 points per game.   DSU leads the league with 96 3-pointers in 11 games this season.

Dakota State had racked up a total of 105 rebounds in the Fairfield Inn by Marriot Bruin Classic tournament on Nov. 17-18, averaging 52.5 rebounds per game after going 2-0 record.  The Trojans pulled down a season high 53 rebounds in 82-52 victory over Ozark Christian (Kan.) on Nov. 18. 

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 155 points (14.1 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 56.7 percent (51-of-90 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 44.6 percent (41-of-92 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Josh Lewis - 81.8 percent (9-of-11 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanuel Akpan - 121 rebounds (11.0 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 39 assists (3.5 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 23 steals (2.1 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Uhana Ochan - 8 blocks (0.9 blocks per game)

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