January 24, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 24, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (14-7 overall record, 4-1 North Star Athletic Association record) looks to wrap up their three-game North Star home stand undefeated Friday evening in the fifth annual Ag Ball contest at DSU Fieldhouse (there will be a free pork loin meal for the ag producers, with the tickets meal coming from the Ag Ball sponsors/businesses list).  Friday's contest also concludes the first half portion of the NSAA basketball conference schedule.

The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) (15-4 overall record, 3-1 NSAA conference record, receiving votes in the latest NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 national poll) in the battle of top teams in the North Star Athletic Association.  Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. 

Dakota State is coming off from a 2-0 record last weekend at home, earning their second straight weekend of 2-0 record sweeps.  The Trojans defeated Viterbo (Wis.) by the score of 94-71 on Jan. 19, followed by a 79-66 victory over Waldorf (Iowa) on Jan. 20.  It was the first time since the 2015-16 season that DSU had won at least four consecutive North Star conference regular-season contests.

Mayville State split a pair of North Star road contests last week, cruising past Valley City State (N.D.) 96-76 on Jan. 17.  Dickinson State (N.D.) handed the Comets the first NSAA setback of the season on Jan. 20 by the score of 79-63. 

Up Next:  Dakota State begins their second half portion of the North Star conference schedule on the road, visiting Viterbo (Wis.) on Feb. 2 and Waldorf (Iowa) on Feb. 3. 

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) currently holds a one-half game lead in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball standings with a 4-1 record.  Dickinson State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) are tied for second with 3-1 conference record each.
+ The Comets swept the North Star Athletic Association regular-season meeting last season with the Trojans, with the most recent victory on Feb. 4, 2023, at DSU Fieldhouse by the score of 82-63.
+ The last time DSU defeated MSU was on Feb. 23, 2022, in the first round of the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament in Mayville, N.D.  The Trojans won by the score of 74-68.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first home win over Mayville State since Jan. 14, 2022.  The Trojans won by the score of 87-60 at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ The second half of the North Star Athletic Association schedule includes switching places after playing the first half of the conference schedule (home-and-away).  The regular-season schedule concludes on Feb. 16-17, where the Trojans host Valley City State (N.D.) and Dickinson State (N.D.).
+ Dakota State is 6-1 record at home this season, seeking to match last year's home wins total with seven wins.  Mayville State is 3-3 record on the road with setbacks at Concordia (Neb.), Jamestown (N.D.), and Dickinson State (N.D.).
+ The Trojans' 4-1 North Star record matched the best conference start in 2014-15 season, the season where the Trojans captured the NSAA postseason tournament's championship game and qualified for the NAIA national tournament.

Noteworthy...
TROJANS MATCH TOTAL WINS, POST BEST NSAA START:  Dakota State (S.D.) matched its total overall wins with the 2017-18 squad after their 79-66 home victory over Waldorf (Iowa) on Jan. 20 at DSU Fieldhouse.  The victory is DSU's 14th win this season, matching the total number of victories in 2017-18 season.  Dakota State also produced their best start in the North Star conference play, matching that best start with the 2014-15 team at 4-1 record in the first five league games.

TROJANS IN THE NSAA CONFERENCE RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Emmanuel Akpan ranks third overall in the conference with 8.1 rebounds per game for Dakota State.  Mison Coilton averages 17.8 points per game during NSAA contests, which ranks third in the league.  Uzo Dibiamaka is fourth in the North Star with 43.6 percent from the 3-point line this season.  

A LOOK AT NSAA MEN'S BASKETBALL STANDINGS:  This weekend will be the conclusion of the first half portion of the North Star men's basketball schedule.  Dakota State holds a one-half game lead with 4-1 record, while Dickinson State (N.D.) and Mayville State (N.D.) are tied for second with 3-1 record.  Bellevue (Neb.) is fourth with 3-2 conference record.  Valley City State (N.D.) and Waldorf (Iowa) are tied for fifth with 1-3 record each, followed by Viterbo (Wis.) seventh with a 0-4 NSAA conference record.
 
2023-24 DSU DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM SEASON UPDATES:  The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team earned back-to-back victories over Dordt (Iowa) in home-and-away contests.  The Trojans defeated the Defenders 75-66 on Jan. 18 at DSU Fieldhouse and earned a 62-54 win in Sioux Center on Jan. 22.  DSU returns home Monday evening versus Northwestern (Iowa) at 7:30 p.m.
 
DSU's balanced scoring attack beat Viterbo (Wis.)
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 19, 2024)—Five different Dakota State (S.D.) players scored in double digits to carry a balanced scoring attack in their 94-71 home North Star men's basketball victory over Viterbo (Wis.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans used a monstrous 14-1 closing run in the final six minutes, twenty-eight seconds in the game.

After a closely tight contest in the early going of the first half, the Trojans highlighted a 12-2 scoring run to balloon their lead to 38-26 with 6:10 to go before halftime.  DSU's lead ballooned to 54-37 by halftime, thanks to their sizzling 52.8 percent field goal shooting.  VU could get no closer than seven points late in the game, where the Trojans maintained control for the rest of the game.

Mison Coilton produced a double-double for the second time in the last three games, posting game-highs of 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.  He dished out four assists.  Josh Lewis scored a season-high 18 points off the bench on his 7-of-9 field goals.  Japjit Gill added 11 points and four assists.  Uzo Dibiamaka and Brayden Pankonen each had 10 points and contributed three assists.  Emmanual Akpan had nine points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and two steals.

DSU shot 50 percent overall from the field (36-of-72 FGs) compared to VU 46.6 percent (27-of-58 FGs).

Trojans extend NSAA's winning streak to four games
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 20, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) opened with a 47-29 lead over Waldorf (Iowa) in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans held on to defeat the Warriors by the score of 79-66 to earn their season-high NSAA's winning streak to four games.  

Leading 20-16, Dakota State went on a monstrous 23-9 outburst to widen their lead to 43-25.  The Trojans led as many as 20 points twice late in the first half and held an 18-point halftime lead.  Waldorf went on a furious comeback with a 15-2 scoring run, trimming DSU's lead to 56-47 with 12:04 remaining.  DSU maintained control for the rest of the game, securing the victory, despite being outscored by the Warriors 37-32 in the second half.

Uzo Dibiamaka poured in a season-high 25 points for Dakota State.  He was 8-of-11 from the field and 6-of-7 free-throws.  Josh Lewis added 14 points off the bench (7-of-8 free-throws).  Mison Coilton tallied 13 points.  Japjit Gill and Brayden Pankonen each scored six points.  Gill had four assists. 

Dakota State shot 47.4 percent overall from the field (27-of-57 field goals) and 9-of-19 from the 3-point arc.  Waldorf was 49.1 percent from the field (26-of-53 field goals). 

A look back to Mayville State-Dakota State series
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 24, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) looks to even their series record in the last 26 meetings with Mayville State (N.D.) on Friday evening at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Comets hold a 13-12 record in the previous 25 meetings since Jan. 29, 2014.

The Trojans and the Comets were former members of the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) in the 2000's decade, as well as members of the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.).  Both teams were original members of the North Star Athletic Association, which formed the league during 2013-14 season. 

During the previous 25 meetings, Dakota State posted the largest margin of victory by the score of 90-60 at DSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 29, 2014.  The Comets swept the season series meeting with the Trojans last season, winning both at DSU Fieldhouse in Madison and at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville.

DSU is searching for their first home win over Mayville State since Jan. 14, 2022, where the Trojans won the game by 27 points (87-60).  DSU scored 1,777 points combined in the last 25 meetings with MSU.

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 292 points (13.9 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 54.2 percent (78-of-144 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Uzo Dibiamaka - 43.6 percent (17-of-39 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 80.0 percent (36-of-45 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanuel Akpan - 170 rebounds (8.1 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 65 assists (3.1 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 36 steals (1.7 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Emmanuel Akpan - 16 blocks (0.8 blocks per game)

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