January 10, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 10, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (10-7 overall record, 0-1 North Star Athletic Association record) looks to snap their three-game losing skid as the continue their North Star conference action with a pair of games in North Dakota this weekend.

The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) (8-6 overall record, 0-0 NSAA conference record) Friday evening with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.  The game will be played at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse (101 College Street SW) in Valley City, N.D.

DSU wraps up their three-game NSAA conference road trip Saturday evening as they visit Dickinson State (N.D.) (9-6 overall record, 0-0 NSAA conference record.  Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium (101 College Street SW) in Dickinson, N.D. 

Dakota State fell short in their North Star Athletic Association opener on Jan. 6, despite trailing as many as 20 points in the game.  The Trojans mounted a furious comeback to earn a slim lead in a short time before the Bruins held off to their victory.  DSU's potential game-winning shot after the missed second free-throw attempt was waved off when the regulation expired, giving BU a 69-68 victory. 

Valley City State and Dickinson State are playing their North Star Athletic Association opener this weekend.  The Vikings closed their non-conference slate with a 93-61 road victory at NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris on Jan. 3.  The Blue Hawks also closed their non-conference schedule with a sweep of Briercrest (Manitoba) on Jan. 5-6.

Up Next:  Dakota State continues their North Star action on the road next weekend, visiting Valley City State (N.D.) on Jan. 12 and Dickinson State (N.D.) on Jan. 13.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first road North Star Athletic Association victory this season.  The last time DSU won on the road in the North Star conference action was on Jan. 14, 2023, with a 69-67 thriller at Presentation (S.D.).
+ Dakota State and Valley City State (N.D.) split their two North Star meetings last season, with both teams winning on their own home court.  VCSU won the last meeting in Valley City, N.D., by the score of 93-74 on Feb. 11, 2023.
+ The Trojans and the Vikings had alternated victories in the previous four meetings.  The last time DSU defeated VCSU on the Vikings' home court was on Jan. 7, 2022, by the score of 86-78.
+ Dickinson State (N.D.) swept all three meetings last season, including the opening round of the NSAA Postseason Tournament on Feb. 21, 2023, by the score of 72-60.
+ The Trojans' last victory over the Blue Hawks was on Feb. 11, 2022, with a 68-66 overtime thriller at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State is seeking for the last victory on DiSU's home court since Feb. 12, 2021, by the score of 63-60.
+ Dakota State is 3-5 record on the road this season.  Valley City State is 4-2 record at home, falling to Brandon (Manitoba) on Oct. 27 and Jamestown (N.D.) on Dec. 30.  Dickinson State is 5-2 record on their home court, losing to Rocky Mountain (Mont.) on Nov. 25 and Montana Western on Dec. 1.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first road victory in more than a month, with the last road victory at NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) on Dec. 2.

Noteworthy...
AROUND THE NORTH STAR:  Dakota State (S.D.) and Bellevue (Neb.) were the first teams that kicked off the 12-game North Star Athletic Association slate on Jan. 6.  The remaining NSAA members have not started their conference play until this week, starting Wednesday between Waldorf (Iowa) and Viterbo (Wis.).  Valley City State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.) begin their conference play this weekend with BU and DSU.  Mayville State (N.D.) also starts their NSAA play this weekend against VU and WU.

DSU AT HOME IN NSAA CONFERENCE PLAY:   Dakota State is set to play their first North Star Athletic Association home contests next weekend as they begin their three-game home stand.  The Trojans host Viterbo (Wis.) on Jan. 19 and Waldorf (Iowa) on Jan. 20, followed by another home game versus Mayville State (N.D.) on Jan. 26.  The Trojans also play three more home North Star contests during the month of February, including Bellevue on Feb. 7, Valley City State on Feb. 16, and Dickinson State (N.D.) on Feb. 17.

TROJANS BALANCED SCORING ATTACK:  Four Dakota State players are averaging in double digits to lead a balanced scoring attack.  Mison Coilton leads the team with 13.1 points per game, while Emmanual Akpan adds 10.7 points per game.  Brayden Pankonen and Kenny Hayes each average 10.1 points per game for the Trojans.  Ethan Slaathaug, despite season-ending knee injury, averaged 10.3 points per game.
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SEASON UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team returns to action Monday versus Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans, at 3-3 overall record, continues their action at Mount Marty (S.D.) on Tuesday.  DSU heads to Dordt (Iowa) on Jan. 22 and plays their home finale versus Northwestern (Iowa) on Jan. 29.  The Trojans end season on Feb. 5 at DWU.

DSU drops NSAA season opener heartbreaker at Bellevue (Neb.)
Bellevue, Neb. (Jan. 6, 2024)—Despite trailing as many as 20 points in the early second half in the North Star Athletic Association opener at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, Dakota State (S.D.) mounted a late comeback to overtake a lead.  The Trojans dropped a heartbreaker to Bellevue (Neb.) as DSU missed a potential game-winning layup and was waved off as regulation expired.  BU held on to a 69-68 victory over DSU.

It was a tale of two halves for Dakota State and Bellevue.  The Bruins grabbed a 42-28 halftime lead, thanks to their sizzling 62.5 percent from the field (15-of-24 field goals) and 8-of-14 3-pointers.  Trailing 61-46 with less than ten minutes to go, DSU held BU to four points in a span of seven-plus minutes.  The Trojans sparked a 20-4 furious comeback for a 66-65 lead with 2:31 remaining.  BU grabbed a 69-67 after a pair of free-throws.  Josh Lewis hit a free-throw and missed the second free-throw and was rebounded by Lewis.  Emmanual Akpan tipped in a potential game-winning shot but was waved off as time expired.

Mison Coilton poured in a season-high 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and stole the ball a season-high five times for DSU.  Akpan added 12 points and five rebounds.  Lewis had 10 points and three steals.

BU shot 50 percent from the field (24-of-48 FGs) compared to Dakota State 41.9 percent (26-of-62 FGs).

Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 10, 2024)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Tuesday, Dakota State (S.D.) ranks third in the North Star Athletic Association in scoring defense.  The Trojans allowed its opponents to 72.1 points per game this season.  DSU is fourth in the league in scoring offense with 75.8 points per game.

The Trojans are third in the conference with 36.2 rebounds per game.  DSU is also third in the league with plus 3.6 rebounds margin.

Emmanual Akpan ranks third individually in the North Star conference with 8.2 rebounds per game for Dakota State.  Mison Coilton is fifth in the conference with 5.8 rebounds per game.  Uhana Ochan is also tied for 11th in the conference with 5.1 rebounds per game.

Brayden Pankonen ranks second in the NSAA conference with 1.8 steals per game for DSU.  Josh Lewis also averages 1.6 steals per game this season, which is third best average in the North Star conference.  Coilton is seventh in the league with 1.4 steals per game.

Coilton ranks ninth in the conference with 13.1 points per game for Dakota State.  Akpan is 19th in the league with 10.7 points per game.

Save the dates at DSU Fieldhouse in January and February
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 10, 2024)—Save the dates for the upcoming events coming at the DSU Fieldhouse during North Star Athletic Association basketball doubleheaders during the month of January and February.

The Dakota State University Athletics department will be holding their Ag Ball festivities on Friday, Jan. 26, in Trojan basketball doubleheader versus Mayville State (N.D.).  The Ag Ball is an event in thanking all the local agriculture businesses and farmers for the economic growth.  Make sure to check out your agriculture businesses for tickets (and meal) to the game.

The DSU Alumni department will also have their Trojan Basketball Alumni Day on Saturday, Feb. 17.  Dakota State plays their final regular-season contest versus Dickinson State (N.D.).  Shootarounds, alumni scrimmages, games and a social are tentatively scheduled for the weekend. 

Dakota State returns home on Jan. 19 to kick off their three-game North Star conference home stand versus Viterbo (Wis.) and Waldorf (Iowa) on Jan. 20.

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 223 points (13.1 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 55.8 percent (67-of-120 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Uzo Dibiamaka - 42.3 percent (11-of-26 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 81.8 percent (27-of-33 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanuel Akpan - 139 rebounds (8.2 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 53 assists (3.1 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 31 steals (1.8 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Uzo Dibiamaka - 11 blocks (1.1 blocks per game)

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