January 6, 2024

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Despite trailing by as many as 20 points in the early second half Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball season opener at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center, Dakota State (S.D.) mounted a furious comeback to overtake a lead.  The Trojans dropped a heartbreaker as they missed a potential game-winning layup as time expired, giving Bellevue (Neb.) a 69-68 thrilling victory.

DSU, who was playing their first game since Dec. 16, dropped their third straight game and fell to 10-7 overall record (0-1 NSAA conference record).  Bellevue improved to 6-11 overall record and 1-0 NSAA conference record.

Dakota State remains on the road next weekend as they continue their North Star conference slate.  The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse Friday at 7:30 p.m., followed by a contest at Dickinson State (N.D.) at the Scott Gymnasium next Saturday at 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Bellevue (Neb.) 69, Dakota State (S.D.) 68 – FINAL

It was a tale of two halves for Dakota State and Bellevue, where the Bruins grabbed a 14-point halftime lead.

Mison Coilton hit a layup to give the Trojans their first lead of the game at 2-0 with nineteen minutes, eleven seconds on the clock. 

The Bruins then went on a 7-0 scoring tear to open a 7-2 lead after a free-throw from Emarr Vinson with 15:02 left in the first half.

Bellevue extended their scoring run to 19-3, capped by a 3-pointer by TJ Fritz for 19-5 lead with 11:54 to go before halftime.

Dakota State snapped their scoring drought after Coilton hit back-to-back layups, trailing 19-9 with 10:44 to go. 

The Bruins sparked a 9-0 run, thanks to Jaden Phillps' three free-throw attempts followed by back-to-back 3-pointers from Christian Carter and Phillips for a 28-9 lead.  The Trojans were forced to call a timeout with 7:36 to go in the first half.

DSU answered with a 9-0 scoring run after timeout.  Josh Lewis hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans trimmed the Bruins' lead to 28-18 with 4:10 to go before intermission.

Brayden Pankonen hit a 3-pointer (assisted by Calvin Payne) to trim DSU's deficit into single digit at 32-23 with 2:37 to go. 

Bellevue hit back-to-back 3-pointers from Phillips and Carter, ballooning their lead to 38-23 with 1:38 to go in the first.

Fritz closed the first half with a jump shot as the Bruins grabbed a 42-28 halftime lead.

BU shot a sizzling 62.5 percent from the field (15-of-24 field goals) and 8-of-14 3-pointers in the first twenty minutes.  DSU was 33.3 percent (11-of-33 field goals) and 3-of-11 3-pointers.

Bellevue built the largest lead of the game at 55-35, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Raydden Grobe with 14:02 remaining.

Trailing 61-46 with less than ten minutes to go, Dakota State held Bellevue to four points in a span of seven-and-half minutes.  The Trojans mounted a 20-4 furious outburst for a 66-65 lead with 2:31 left, capped by a dunk by Emmanel Akpan as they regained their lead for first time since the opening tip of the game.

Liam Thompson hit the first free-throw of his two free-throw attempts as the Bruins knotted the game at 66-66 with 2:03 left.

Kenny Hayes hit the first free-throw as DSU regained their lead at 67-66 with 1:47 left (missed the second free-throw attempt).  Vinson answered with a free-throw on his second attempt with 1:02 remaining as the Bruins tied the game at 67-67.

The Trojans committed a turnover on the next possession.  DSU fouled BU's Thompson, sending him to the free-throw line.  He converted both free-throws as Bellevue grabbed a 69-67 lead with less than 20 seconds to go in the game.

Dakota State called a timeout with 12.6 seconds left on the ensuing possession.  Bellevue committed a foul on Lewis, sending him to the free-throw line for two attempts.  Lewis made the first one as the Trojans trailed 69-68, while the Bruins called a timeout with 2.4 seconds left.

Lewis missed the second free-throw attempt and rebounded the ball followed by a missed layup.  Akpan rebounded the ball and tipped the ball in the basket after the buzzer, securing the victory for Bellevue.

Dakota State outscored Bellevue 40-27 in the second half.  The Trojans shot 15-of-29 from the field (51.7 percent) and 3-of-4 from the 3-point arc.  Bellevue was held to 9-of-24 field goals (37.5 percent) and hit 3-of-9 3-pointers.

Coilton poured in a season-high 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and stole the ball a season-high five times for Dakota State.  He was 9-of-19 from the field.  Akpan added 12 points and five rebounds.  Lewis had 10 points and three steals off the bench.

Pankonen tallied nine points and five assists (tied season-high) for DSU.  Japjit Gill and Haynes each added five points. 

Fritz scored a game-high 22 points off the bench for Bellevue.  He was 9-of-14 from the field, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point line.  Thompson and Phillips each added nine points.  Thompson had seven rebounds.  Carter scored eight points and dished out five assists.  Jerome Bynum, Nigel Wilson, and Vinson each had six points.  Vinson had six rebounds.

Bellevue shot 50 percent overall (24-of-48 field goals) compared to Dakota State 41.9 percent (26-of-62 field goals).  The Bruins drained 11 3-pointers in 23 tries (47.8 percent), while the Trojans were 6-of-15 3-pointers.  Both teams made 10 free-throws and grabbed 33 rebounds.

DSU outscored BU 36-24 inside the paint.