October 23, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Oct. 23, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (0-0 overall record) makes their 2024-25 season debut with a two-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans host Oak Hills (Minn.) (0-0 overall record) in the season opening night Thursday night.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

The Trojans continue their home stand Sunday afternoon versus Union (Neb.) (0-0 overall record).  The game is set for 4 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State officially opens their season at DSU Fieldhouse for the fifth time in the last six seasons, with the last time during the 2022-23 season where DSU hosted their own home tournament with Briar Cliff (Iowa) and Midland (Neb.).

The Trojans finished their 2023-24 season with an overall record of 17-13, the most wins and first winning season since the 2015-16 season (19 victories).  DSU's 17 victories were tied for seventh most wins in a single season with four other squads in 2014-15, 1989-90, 1965-66, and 1963-64.  In addition, it was the most wins for a first-year head coach in program history for Darren Tighe since the 1963-64 season (which was coached by legendary Ed Harter).

DSU advanced to the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament's semifinals round in 2023-24.

Up Next:  Dakota State plays their first road contest of the season on Wednesday, Oct. 30, visiting NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.).  The game is set for 7 p.m. in New Ulm, Minn.  The Trojans return home at DSU Fieldhouse next Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (3 p.m.) for a pair of contests with Providence (Manitoba).

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) kicks off their 2024-25 season with six games schedule in a two-week span from Oct. 24 through Nov. 6, capping with the annual Battle of the Blues at the Corn Palace versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Nov. 6.
+ The Trojans are 5-0 all-time record versus Oak Hills (Minn.) since the start of the all-time meeting on Nov. 6, 2015, at Presentation (S.D.) in Aberdeen, S.D.  Both teams' last meeting was on Dec. 6, 2020, at DSU Fieldhouse, won by Dakota State 83-53. 
+ DSU is hosting Union (Neb.) for the first all-time series meeting on Sunday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ Dakota State had won the home opener last season against Providence (Manitoba), fueling to their 9-3 home court record at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the second straight year that DSU had produced a home court winning record (7-6 home court record during the 2022-23 season).
+ The Trojans hosted the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament last season for the first time since the 2015-16 season, earning an 85-61 victory over Viterbo (Wis.).
+ Dakota State had hit double digit victories 12 times in the previous 14 seasons after collecting 17 wins in 2023-24.  
+ DSU plays a total of three games during the month of October, followed by nine games (including exhibition contests) during the month of November.
+ There is a total of 23 players on this year's Trojan men's basketball varsity and developmental squads.
 
Noteworthy...
DSU ATHLETICS' EVENTS GO DIGITAL:  The Dakota State University Trojan Athletics had announced that event tickets are online for purchase.  Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online on https://dsuathletics.com/sports/2024/5/23/tickets.aspx.  Contact the DSU Athletics office at 605-256-5229 if you have any questions.

SAVE THE DATES:   Mark on your calendars for special events that DSU men's basketball team will be hosting.  The Trojans will host the late Ken Prorok & Law Enforcement Appreciation Game on Saturday, Nov. 2 versus Providence (Manitoba).  The Military Appreciation Night will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 versus Trinity Bible (N.D.).  On Friday, Jan. 24, Coaches' vs. Cancer night will be held as DSU hosts Jamestown (N.D.) to help raise cancer awareness.  The Ag Ball is set for Feb. 14 on Valentine's Day versus Mayville State (N.D.).  Stay tuned to the DSU Athletics website for future updates on schedule and events.

FINAL YEAR IN THE NORTH STAR CONFERENCE:  This year will be the final year competing in the North Star Athletic Association, before moving to the Frontier Conference in the 2025-26 academic season.  Each of the North Star basketball members will be playing a total of 15 conference games, starting in mid-December.  Each team will be playing a total of three conference meetings during the season.
 
2024-25 DSU MEN'S BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENTAL SCHEDULE:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team opens their season on Nov. 4 at Dordt (Iowa).  The Trojans will open their home schedule on Nov. 11 versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D) at DSU Fieldhouse.  Dakota State scheduled 13 total developmental contests on their 2024-25 schedule.

Trojans picked to finish fourth in NSAA conference
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 21, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) was picked to finish fourth in the 2024-25 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll.  League head coaches were allowed to vote for their own team, awarding on a 6-1 basis.

Dickinson State (N.D.) edged out both Bellevue (Neb.) and Jamestown (N.D.) by two points.  The Blue Hawks tallied three first place votes and 29 points to claim the top spot.  The Bruins picked up the final three first place votes.  Both BU and UJ scored 27 points in the conference preseason poll. 

Dakota State collected 18 points to finish fourth in the poll, edging out Mayville State (N.D.) who finished fifth with 16 points.  Valley City State (N.D.) finished sixth after scoring nine points.   

The NSAA conference season gets underway on Dec. 13-15.  The Trojans host Mayville State on Dec. 14, followed by another contest versus Valley City State on Dec. 15.  Each league member will be playing a total of 15 conference games, playing each other three times during the conference season.

The North Star postseason tournament opening round (top two seeds receive a bye) begins on Feb. 26, 2025, followed by the semifinals on March 1, 2025, and the championship game on March 4, 2025.

2024-25 Trojan Men's Basketball Schedule Overview
Madison, S.D. (Sept. 20, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) will be playing a total of 14 home basketball contests at DSU Fieldhouse, including four times in the first five games of the 2024-25 season.  DSU also have a 15-game conference schedule in the final year of the North Star Athletic Association.

The Trojans play a pair of exhibition contests on their 2024-25 schedule.  DSU will face a pair of NCAA Division II opponents on Nov. 14 at Nebraska-Kearney and on Nov. 19 at Northern State (S.D.). 

Dakota State plays one preseason tournament on their 2024-25 schedule, playing in the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic on Nov. 22-23 in Bellevue. Neb.  The Trojans face Nobel (Calif.) on the first day of the tournament, followed by a contest versus Ozark Christian (Mo.).

DSU will have their season-long six-game home stand at DSU Fieldhouse that will start by the end of November through early January.  The Trojans kick off their home stand on Nov. 26 versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) and wraps up their home stand versus Bellevue (Neb.) on Jan. 4.

DSU concludes their non-conference schedule at home versus NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) on Dec. 9.

2024-25 DSU men's basketball roster breakdown
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 25, 2024)—Darren Tighe will be entering his second season as the Dakota State men's basketball head coach.  He is assisted by Dalton Kleinschmidt (second season) and graduate assistants Damien Luna (fourth season) and Jacob Strand (first season).

The Trojans have 15 players listed on their 2024-25 roster.  North Star Athletic Association Freshman-of-the-Year Brayden Pankonen returns from last year's squad.  Also returning to the Trojans this season are seniors Calvin Payne, Isaac Sumption, Taine Mitchell (redshirt), Colby Dillenbeck (redshirt), and Ethan Slaathaug.

Newcomers to the Trojans this season include Spencer Hutchinson (transfer from the University of Iowa), Lane Tietz, Tyler Beckwith, Kailen Arnold, Trelin Barnett, Aiden Jensen (transfer from Mount Marty, S.D.), Rysley Borman, Lukas Morgan, and Nolan Segner.

The Trojan men's basketball developmental team includes Chuck Callahan, Zach Ourada, Mark Close, Noah Haynes, Trevor Heinz, Devon Berg, Hayden Anderson, and Dylon Rawdon. 
 
2024-25 Dakota State Men's Basketball Returning Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Ethan Slaathaug - 185 points (10.2 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Ethan Slaathaug - 49.2 percent (32-of-65 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 38.2 percent (65-of-170 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 80.0 percent (52-of-65 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Calvin Payne - 56 rebounds (2.9 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 61 assists (2.0 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 41 steals (1.4 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Calvin Payne - 2 blocks (0.1 block per game)