November 9, 2023

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 9, 2023)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (3-3 overall record) looks to carry their three-game winning streak as they play a three-game slate this week.  The Trojans play a pair of games in the Ernie Stevens, Jr. Classic, hosted by Haskell (Kan.).  DSU faces the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (1-1 overall record) on the first day of the tournament Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.  On Friday, the Trojans play the host-team Haskell (Kan.) with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.  Both games are being played at Coffin Sports Complex (155 Indian Ave.) in Lawrence, Kan.

Dakota State returns home Monday evening for the Battle of the Blues, sponsored by BankWest at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans welcome long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (3-0 overall record) for the second meeting this season.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

After falling to Dordt (Iowa) at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Nov. 1, Dakota State reeled off with three consecutive victories to wrap up their busiest schedule.  The Trojans earned their first win of the season at Martin Luther (Minn.) 77-65 on Nov. 2 and earned a weekend sweep with Providence (Manitoba) in their home opener at DSU Fieldhouse 90-83 on Nov. 4 and 103-63 on Nov. 5.

College of the Ozarks earned their first win of the season on Nov. 4 at home versus Hannibal –LaGrange (Mo.).  Haskell dropped an exhibition to Fort Lewis on the same day, while DWU fell to NCAA Division I South Dakota State on Nov. 8 at Frost Arena.

Up Next:   DSU plays in preseason tournament next weekend in Bellevue, Neb., in another two-game slate.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is 2-0 record at home this season, extending their home court winning streak to three games dating back from last season.
+ The Trojans will play their first all-time meeting with the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) Thursday evening in Lawrence, Kan.
+ DSU defeated Haskell (Kan.) 55-54 in a thriller in their first all-time meeting as part of the Bellevue (Neb.) holiday classic on Dec. 30, 2022.
+ Dakota State fell to rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) in their first meeting of the season on Oct. 29 at the Corn Palace.  The Tigers used a second-half surge to erase their halftime deficit for an 82-67 win over the Trojans. 
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over DWU since Jan. 2, 2017, where the Trojans defeated the nationally ranked squad by the score of 76-67 at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ Dakota State will play another pair of all-time first meeting next weekend in the Bellevue (Neb.) Classic.  The Trojans play Harris-Stowe (Mo.) on Nov. 17, followed by a contest with Ozark Christian (Mo.) on Nov. 18.
+ Dakota State hit the century mark for the first time this season on Nov. 5.  The Trojans poured in 103 points in the game, thanks to all 13 players that scored in the game.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first road victory of the season, playing a road contest at Haskell on Friday evening.
+ DSU is 0-1 record on the neutral sites this season, despite a setback to (RV) Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 1 at Sanford Pentagon.

Noteworthy...
DAKOTA STATE AT HOME:  Dakota State (S.D.) is 2-0 record at DSU Fieldhouse this season, averaging 96.5 points per game after their weekend sweep of Providence (Manitoba) on Nov. 4-5.  The Trojans have two home games remaining during the month of November including a contest with Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Nov. 13 and Trinity Bible (N.D.) on Nov. 28.  Dakota State will have six home North Star Athletic Association on their 2024 portion of the conference schedule. 

TROJANS IN THE NORTH STAR RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday morning, Dakota State ranks third overall with 79.0 points per game in the North Star Athletic Association.  The Trojans lead the league with total 3-pointers made with 54 3-pointers.  Emmanuel Akpan ranks third in the North Star with 7.3 rebounds per game.  He is also seventh in the NSAA in field goal percentage with 60 percent.  Mison Coilton is tied for seventh in the North Star with 14.5 points per game this season.

LOOKING BACK TO DSU-DWU RIVALRY SERIES:   Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) were long time members of the former South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference.  After the SDIC folded after the 1999-2000 season, DSU became a member of the Dakota Athletic Conference and then North Star Athletic Association.  DWU had been a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference since 2000-01.
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM OPENS SEASON UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team raised their overall record to 3-1 after a pair of wins on back-to-back days.  The Trojans held on to defeat Dordt (Iowa) 81-80 in overtime thriller on Nov. 3, followed by a 76-66 road win at Mount Marty (S.D.).  DSU begins their three-game home stand on Nov. 15 versus DWU.

Trojans earn first win of the season at MLC
New Ulm, Minn. (Nov. 2, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) used a second-half outburst at Luther Student Center, defeating NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) 77-65 for the first win of the season.  The victory also gave Darren Tighe their first win as DSU men's basketball head coach.

Despite trailing 42-40 at halftime, DSU and MLC traded leads or tied the game through the first five minutes of the second half.  The Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring run to grab a 61-54 lead midway through the second half.

Dakota State outscored Martin Luther 37-23 in the final twenty minutes of the game to secure the victory.  The game featured eight lead changes and five ties.

Four Dakota State starters scored in double digits, sparked by Emmanuel Akpan with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen added 14 points and stole the ball a season-high five times.  Mison Coilton scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds.  Japjit Gill had 12 points and contributed six assists.  Ethan Slaathaug tallied nine points and four rebounds.  Kenny Haynes had eight points.

DSU shot 40 percent overall from the field (24-of-60 field goals) compared to MLC 43.8 percent (28-of-64 field goals).  The Trojans hit 19-of-28 free-throws, while the Knights were 5-of-5 free-throws.

Dakota State holds off Pilots in home opener 90-83
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 4, 2023)—Dakota State (S.D.) erased a nine-point second half deficit in their home opener at DSU Fieldhouse, rallying back to defeat Providence (Manitoba) by the score of 90-83.

Dakota State sparked a 7-0 scoring run from three different scorers and ballooned their lead to 15-5 for the first double digit lead of the game.  The Pilots rallied back to take a 45-40 halftime lead over DSU. 

Trailing 56-47 in in the second half, the Trojans stormed back with a 13-4 scoring run to knot the game at 60-60.  DSU highlighted a 22-8 outburst to regain their double digit lead at 86-76 with three minutes to go in the game.  The Trojans outscored the Pilots 50-38 in the second half.

Mison Coilton paced DSU with 18 points and eight rebounds.  Uhana Ochan posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen scored a season-high 17 points.  Kenny Haynes scored 12 points.  Gill had nine points and six assists. 

Dakota State shot 45.2 percent from the field (33-of-73 field goals) compared to Providence 48.2 percent (31-of-63 field goals).  The Trojans drained 11 3-pointers in 31 tries, while the Pilots were 9-of-27 from the 3-point arc.   DSU outrebounded PU 45-34, including 17-7 on the offensive boards.

Trojans hit century mark for second straight win
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 5, 2023)—All thirteen Dakota State (S.D.) players scored in the game, hitting the century mark for the first time this season with a 103-63 victory over Providence (Manitoba) to complete the weekend home sweep at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the third straight win for the Trojans.

Dakota State never trailed in the 40-minute basketball game as they opened with a 7–2 lead with 17:42 on the clock.  The Trojans led 38-28 at halftime and used a second-half starting outburst to put the game away.  DSU poured in 65 points in the final twenty minutes of the game and held the Pilots to 35 points. 

Kenny Haynes had a game-high 25 points on his 9-of-14 field goals and 5-of-10 from the 3-point line.  Mison Coilton scored 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.  Emmanual Akpan scored 13 points.  Ethan Slatthaug had 12 points.  Japjit Gill added 11 points and dished out a career high eight assists.  He stole the ball four times.  DSU shot a season-high 58 percent from the field (40-of-69 field goals).
 
2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 87 points (14.5 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 60 percent (24-of-40 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Kenny Haynes - 37.1 percent (13-of-35 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Japjit Gill - 80 percent (12-of-15 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanual Akpan - 44 rebounds (7.3 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 28 assists (4.7 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 15 steals (2.5 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Uhana Ochan - 2 blocks (1.0 block per game)

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