October 27, 2024

Photos by DSU Sports Information media team, MIke Black

MADISON, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) poured in 57 first half points, thanks to their 52.8 percent field goal shooting, to earn their second straight victory with a 94-66 win over Union (Neb.) Sunday afternoon at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the first time since the 2017-18 season that the Trojans kicked off the season with a 2-0 record.  Union was playing their season opener Sunday.

The Warriors kicked off the game with a 2-0 lead after Braden Essex's basket with nineteen minutes, fifteen seconds on the clock.

DSU exploded for a 23-2 outburst, including 15 straight points followed by eight straight points.  Five different players – Taine Mitchell, Isaac Sumption, Colby Dillenbeck, Brayden Pankonen, and Aiden Jensen) scored during the Trojans' 15-0 scoring run (DSU led 15-2 after a 3-pointer from Jensen, assisted by Pankonen with 15:46 left on the clock). 

After Union snapped their scoring drought after Danset Okemwa's basket, Dakota State scored eight straight points to balloon their lead to 23-4 with a 3-pointer from Lane Tietz (assisted by Rysley Borman) with fourteen minutes to go in the first half.

Union went on a 13-2 scoring run to trim Dakota State's lead to 25-17 after a 3-pointer from Blake Essex with 11:29 on the clock in the first half.

Leading 33-25, The Trojans closed the first half with a monstrous 24-7 run.  Pankonen stole the ball and dished an assist to Tietz for a fast-break layup to give DSU a 57-32 halftime lead.

DSU was 19-of-36 from the field in the first twenty minutes, including 7-of-16 from the 3-point arc.  The Trojans also hit 12-of-15 free-throws.  Union was held to 9-of-27 field goals (33.3 percent), 4-of-6 from the 3-point line, and converted 10-of-14 at the free-throw line.

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, outscoring Union 37-34 in the final twenty minutes. 

The Trojans used a balanced scoring attack with 13 different players scoring in the game, led by Dillenback with 13 points.  Pankonen, Sumption, and Borman each added 11 points.  Jensen, Ethan Slaathaug, and Tietz each tallied eight points.  Mitchell scored seven points.

Borman pulled down six rebounds for DSU.  Pankonen and Mitchell each added five rebounds.  Pankonen dished out five assists.  Slaathaug had three assists and three steals.  Calvin Payne, Borman, Tietz, and Lukas Morgan each registered two assists. 

Okemwa scored 14 points for the Warriors.  JP Grubbs added 13 points and five rebounds.  Braden Essex had 12 points.  Blake Essex tallied seven points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Dakota State shot 48.6 percent overall from the field (34-of-70 field goals) and hit 11 3-pointers in 33 attempts.  The Trojans also made 15 free throws in 21 attempts.  Union was 40 percent from the field (22-of-55 field goals), 10-of-21 3-pointers, and 12-of-17 at the free-throw line. 

DSU outrebounded Union 38-35. 

The Trojans outscored the Warriors 36-12 in points off turnovers, 50-23 in bench points, and 46-20 inside the paint.