February 21, 2023

DICKINSON, S.D. – No. 6 seed Dakota State (S.D.) and No. 3 Dickinson State (N.D.) went through a closely tight contest in the opening round of the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason tournament Tuesday evening at Scott Gymnasium.  Knotted at 29-29 at halftime, the Blue Hawks used a late-game scoring run to end the Trojans' season by the score of 72-60.

Dakota State ended their season at 12-17 overall record.  Tuesday's contest marked the end of long-time head coach Gary Garner's 14-years as head coach at Dakota State, where he holds the second all-time men's basketball coaching wins in program history with 198 victories. 

Dickinson State evened their overall record at 14-14 and will play No. 7 seed Waldorf (Iowa) – who upset No. 2 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 72-62 Tuesday – in the second semifinal game on Saturday evening at 8 p.m.  The NSAA men's basketball tournament's Final Four is held at Watertown Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D. on Saturday and Sunday.

Dickinson State (N.D.) 72, Dakota State (S.D.) 60 – FINAL

• Dakota State grabbed the first lead of the game at 3-0 after a 3-pointer from Deshawn Kelly with nineteen minutes and nineteen seconds in the first half.
• Dickinson State answered with a 10-2 scoring run, capped by Kose Egbule's basket for a 10-5 lead with 15:17 on the clock in the first half.
• DSU would answer with a quick 5-0 run to tie the game at 10-10 with 14:09 to go before intermission, thanks to Brett Limke's 3-pointer followed by Chris Morales' field goal.
• The Blue Hawks opened a 21-15 lead after John Evans' basket, forcing the Trojans to call a timeout with 7:45 to go in the first half.
• DSU answered with back-to-back 3-pointers from Ben Hoverson and Limke, rallying back to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:21 left before halftime.
• The game was knotted at 29-29 by halftime.
• Dickinson State was 40 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (10-of-25 field goals) compared to Dakota State 37.9 percent (11-of-29 field goals).  The Trojans hit 5-of-12 from the 3-point arc, while the Blue Hawks were 3-of-6 3-pointers.
• Dakota State kicked off the second half with a 6-0 scoring run, fueled by Hoverson's basket followed by back-to-back baskets from Kelly for a 35-29 lead with 17:38 left.
• Christian Murphy snapped DiSU's scoring drought with a basket, trailing 35-31 with 17:21 on the clock, which ignited a 12-0 scoring run to grab a 41-35 lead after Murphy's 3-point play with 13:39 left.
• Trailing 46-39, Dakota State went on a another 6-0 scoring run to cut Dickinson State's lead to 46-45 with 10:48 remaining after Ethan Slaathaugh's basket (assisted by Ethan Damerum).
• Leading 50-47, Dickinson State went on a 9-0 scoring run highlighted by Murphy's 3-point play for a 59-50 lead with 5:13 left.
• Dakota State could get no closer than six points at 64-58 with 1:08 remaining after Sam Muller's basket.
• The Blue Hawks outscored the Trojans 43-31 in the final twenty minutes of the game to secure the victory.
• DiSU was 44.8 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-29 field goals) and hit 15-of-17 from the free-throw line.  DSU was 41.9 percent from the field (13-of-31 field goals) and 4-of-9 from the free-throw line.
• Kelly led the Trojans with 11 points.  Damerum and Hoverson each added 10 points.  Damerum had five rebounds, three blocks, and three assists.  Morales scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds.
• Muller tallied eight points and four rebounds for Dakota State.  Limke had eight points.  Slaathaug had four points and three rebounds. 
• Egbule led the Blue Hawks with 13 points, five rebounds, and three assists.  Murphy added 12 points and six rebounds.  Josiah Haaland had 11 points.  Evans scored 10 points and collected seven rebounds.
• Dakota State shot 40 percent overall from the field (24-of-60 field goals) compared to Dickinson State 42.6 percent (23-of-54 field goals).  The Trojans hit 6-of-19 3-pointers, while the Blue Hawks were 5-of-15 from the 3-point arc.
• DiSU converted 21-of-26 from the free-throw line.  DSU was 6-of-11 free-throws. 
• Dickinson State outrebounded Dakota State 38-36. 
• The Trojans registered seven blocks compared to the Blue Hawks two blocks.
• DSU outscored DiSU 30-28 inside the paint and 22-17 in bench points.
• Tuesday's game was the final game for Dakota State's six seniors – Nolan DePover, Taylor Edwards, Kelly, Ronnie Latting, Morales, and Manny N'tula.

Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director