November 6, 2024

MITCHELL, S.D. – Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) built up a 20-point halftime lead Wednesday evening, rolling past Dakota State (S.D.) 76-48 in the annual men's basketball 'Battle of the Blues' traveling trophy, sponsored by BankWest, at the Corn Palace.  The Trojans were held to 30 percent field goal shooting in the game.

Dakota State fell to 4-2 overall record.  Dakota Wesleyan, a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference, remained undefeated this season with a 3-0 overall record.  The 'Battle of the Blues' traveling trophy is now at 1-1 all-time series, where it was inaugurated at DSU Fieldhouse last season.

The Trojans return to action next Wednesday, taking on another opponent from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  DSU takes on (RV) Dordt (Iowa) at Sanford Sports Complex on Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 76, Dakota State (S.D.) 48 – FINAL

Both teams traded leads in the early going of the game.  The Tigers opened with a 2-0 lead after Randy Rosenquist's basket with nineteen minutes, sixteen seconds on the clock.  DSU answered with their first lead after a 3-pointer from Isaac Sumption (assisted by Colby Dillenbeck) for a 3-2 lead with 18:57 to go in the first half.

Dillenbeck hit a layup for DSU 5-4 lead with 18:16 on the clock (assisted by Brayden Pankonen) before DWU went on a 15-3 outburst.  Samuel Aslesen hit a layup to balloon Tigers' lead to 19-8 with 12:05 to go in the first half.

Dakota Wesleyan maintained their double-digit lead, leading 41-21 by halftime.  The Tigers shot 45.7 percent from the field (16-of-35 field goals) in the first twenty minutes and held the Trojans to 29.2 percent (7-of-24 field goals).

DWU secured the victory after outscoring DSU 35-27 in the second half. 

Eleven different players scored in the game, led by Sumption with eight points.  Pankonen added six points and grabbed four rebounds.  Rysley Borman scored five points.  Dillenbeck, Aiden Jensen, Lane Tietz, Ethan Slaathaug, Tyler Beckwith, and Trelin Barnett each scored four points.

Jensen collected six rebounds for Dakota State.  Barnett dished out three assists.  Tietz added two assists.  Dillenbeck, Calvin Payne, Tietz, and Barnett each recorded a steal.

Aslesen paced DWU with a double-double of 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds.  Rosenquist added 15 points.  Tampa Soctt IV and Jakob Dobney each scored 10 points.  Blaze Lubbers collected six rebounds.

Dakota Wesleyan shot 42 percent overall from the field (29-of-69 field goals) and held Dakota State to 15-of-50 field goals.  The Trojans hit 6-of-26 3-pointers compared to the Tigers 4-of-20 3-pointers.  DWU converted 14-of-19 free throws to DSU 12-of-17 free throws. 

The Tigers outrebounded the Trojans 43-30 in the game.  DWU outscored DSU 15-2 in points off turnovers.