October 30, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (2-0 overall record) continues their busy preseason schedule with three games slated for this week.  The Trojans play their first road contest of the season Wednesday evening, visiting NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.).  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at LSC Gymnasium (1995 Luther Court) in New Ulm, Minn.

Dakota State returns home Friday and Saturday as they host Providence (Manitoba).  The game is set for 7 p.m. on Friday evening.  On Saturday, the Trojan men's basketball team will have a special event, Ken Prorok and Law Enforcement Appreciation Game at 3 p.m.

DSU cruised past a pair of opponents in their season opener at home last week.  The Trojans rolled past Oak Hills (Minn.) 108-40 in the home opener on Oct. 24.  Dakota State followed up with a 94-66 victory over Union (Neb.) in both teams' first-ever all-time series meeting.

Martin Luther will be playing an exhibition contest on Wednesday with Dakota State.  Their 2024-25 regular-season does not officially begin until Nov. 8 when they host Rockford (Ill.).  The Trojans defeated MLC 77-65 in last year's meeting on Nov. 2, 2023, in New Ulm.

Providence fell in a pair of exhibition games at North Star's fellow Mayville State (N.D.) last weekend at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.  The Trojans swept a pair of games last season at DSU Fieldhouse in their last meetings.

Up Next:  Dakota State heads on the road next Wednesday for the annual 'Battle of the Blues' with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The game is set for 8 p.m. at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2017-18 season after their home victories over Oak Hills (Minn.) and Union (Neb.).
+ The Trojans are 3-0 record against NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) since Dec. 1, 2012.  DSU is 2-0 record in the last two meetings with the Knights, most recently with their 77-65 victory on Nov. 2, 2023.
+ DSU won both meetings with Providence (Manitoba) in their first all-time series meeting at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Trojans held on to a 90-83 victory on Nov. 4, 2023, followed by 103-63 victory over the Pilots on the next day (Nov. 5, 2023).
+ Dakota State is one of the 16 teams that scored over 100 points as the NAIA Men's Basketball officially kicked off last week.  The Trojans poured in 108 points in their home opener versus Oak Hills (Minn.) on Oct. 24 at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ DSU scored a season-high 57 points in the first half this season on Oct. 27, rolling past Union (Neb.) 94-66.
+ Colby Dillenbeck ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association in field goal percentage, producing 78.6 percent from the field (11-of-14 field goals) for the Trojans.  He also ranks fourth in the conference with 14.5 points per game.
+ Dakota State will face four different NCAA schools this season, including Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) Wednesday.  The Trojans also visit Division II schools Nebraska-Kearney and Northern State (S.D.) in exhibition games.  DSU will also host Division III Crown (Minn.) on Dec. 9.
+ DSU is seeking for their second consecutive year with a 4-0 record at home (at DSU Fieldhouse).

Noteworthy...
TROJANS IN THE RECORD BOOK:  Dakota State (S.D.) posted their third largest margin of victory in school history after rolling past Oak Hills (Minn.) 108-40 on Oct. 24.  The Trojans earned a 68-point margin of victory, which the school record is 83-point margin of victory versus Oglala Lakota (S.D.) during the 2012-13 season.  The 2015-16 squad also produced a 74-point margin of victory over Oglala Lakota in the Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) Classic.  DSU tied for fifth fewest points allowed in school history with 40 points.

DSU HIT CENTURY MARK IN HOME OPENER:   It was the first time since the 2015-16 season home opener that the Trojans surpassed the century mark.  Dakota State scored 105 points in their home opener over Mount Marty (S.D.) 105-63.  DSU also hit the century mark in the home opener in 2012-13 season, pouring in 130 points in their 130-47 victory over Oglala Lakota (S.D.).  

SAVE THE DATES—SPECIAL EVENTS:  Mark down on your calendars for a pair of upcoming basketball special events.  The annual 'Battle of the Blues' series, which began at DSU Fieldhouse last season, now will be played in Mitchell, S.D., this season on Nov. 6 (Wednesday).  Dakota State then will host (RV) Dordt (Iowa) in the annual contest held at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Wednesday, Nov. 13.  DSU hosts Trinity Bible (N.D.) in the Military Appreciation Game on Nov. 26.
 
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 win home opener in 108-40 rout over Oak Hills
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 24, 2024)—All fifteen Dakota State (S.D.) players scored in the game, igniting a 55.9 field goal percentage to fuel to their 108-40 season home opening victory over Oak Hills (Minn.) at DSU Fieldhouse. 

Both teams went scoreless in the first minute of the game.  The Trojans sparked a 5-0 scoring run, kicked off by a 3-pointer from Isaac Sumption followed by a layup by Colby Dillenbeck.  Dakota State went through series of runs in the first half, racing to a 47-17 halftime lead. 

DSU poured in 61 points in the final twenty minutes of the game to secure the victory, thanks to their sizzling 66.7 percent shooting from the field.  The Trojans hit 20 baskets in 30 attempts in the second half.

Six Trojan players scored in double digits, le by Dillenbeck with 16 points on his 6-of-6 field goals.  Aiden Jensen added 15 points off the bench after going 7-for-7 from the field.  Brayden Pankonen had 13 points.  Lane Tietz and Trelin Barnett each tallied 11 points.  Sumption had 10 points. 

The Trojans contributed 32 assists in the game, which tied for fourth most assists in single-season school record book.  Taine Mitchell dished out a game-high five assists.  Calvin Payne and Sumption each had four assists.  Tyler Beckwith and Jensen each had six rebounds.

DSU starts season at 2-0 after 94-66 win over Union
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 27, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) poured in a season-high 57 points in the first half at DSU Fieldhouse, rolling to a 94-66 victory over Union (Neb.) to start their 2024-25 season at 2-0 record.

The Trojans used a 23-2 outburst, including scoring 15 straight points followed by eight straight points.  Five different players scored during DSU's 15-0 scoring run.  The Trojans' lead grew to 57-32 by halftime and outscored the Warriors 37-34 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with 13 different players scoring in the game, led by Colby Dillenbeck with 13 points.  Brayden Pankonen, Isaac Sumption, and Rysley Borman each added 11 points.  Aiden Jensen, Ethan Slaathaug, and Lane Tietz each scored eight points.  Taine Mitchell had seven points.

Borman pulled down six rebounds for Dakota State.  Pankonen and Mitchell each added five rebounds.  Pankonen dished out five assists. 

Dakota State shot 48.6 percent overall from the field (34-of-70 field goals) and hit 11 3-pointers in 33 tries.  Union was 40 percent from the field (22-of-55 field goals).  DSU outscored Union 50-23 in bench points.

Dakota State prepares for Battle of the Blues
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) is preparing for their second annual Battle of the Blues traveling trophy with rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  The second Battle of the Blues will be held at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, S.D.

The annual Battle of the Blues series began on Nov. 13, 2023, at DSU Fieldhouse, which the men's basketball game saw one of the instant classic thrilling finishes.  The game featured 18 lead changes, nine ties, and a lead no greater than seven points by the Trojans (Tigers' biggest lead was five points).

After DWU hit a jumper to give them a 76-74 lead with 3.3 seconds remaining, Dakota State answered on the ensuing possession to secure the victory.  The Trojans made a long pass from the back court to the front court and was deflected out of bounds by the Tigers with 1.2 seconds remaining.   

Brayden Pankonen threw a pass from the out-of-bounds to Uzo Dibiamaka as he hit the game-winning 3-point shot from the arc with no time remaining, giving DSU a 77-76 thrilling victory. 

2024-25 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Colby Dillenbeck - 29 points (14.5 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Colby Dillenbeck - 78.6 percent (11-of-14 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 41.2 percent (7-of-17 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Trelin Barnett - 100.0 percent (6-of-6 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Tyler Beckwith - 8 rebounds (4.0 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 9 assists (4.5 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Isaac Sumption, Brayden Pankonen - 5 steals (2.5 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Colby Dillenbeck - 1 block (0.5 block per game)