November 6, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Nov. 6, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (4-1 overall record) plays their second road contest of the season Wednesday evening (tonight).  The Trojans prepare for the second annual Battle of the Blues, sponsored by BankWest.  The inaugural Battle of the Blues traveling trophy began last year at DSU Fieldhouse.

DSU travels to long-time rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) (2-0) of the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at the Corn Palace (604 N Main Street) in Mitchell, S.D.

Dakota State is coming off from their 2-1 record for the week.  The Trojans suffered their first setback of the season on Oct. 30, playing their first road contest of the season.  Despite taking a 36-28 halftime lead, DSU was outscored by NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) 39-27 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  Dakota State returned to the winning column as the cruised past Providence (Manitoba) in a pair of home games at DSU Fieldhouse, 93-53 victory on Nov. 1 and 122-72 win on Nov. 2 to remain undefeated at home.

Dakota Wesleyan is coming off from their 2-0 start, kicking off the season with a 83-67 road victory at NCAA Division III Buena Vista (Iowa).  The Tigers added a 77-64 road victory at Saint Mary (Kan.) on Nov. 2.  DWU is playing their home opener this week against a pair of Great Plains Athletic Conference (Valley City State, N.D., on Saturday).

Up Next:  Dakota State takes on (RV) Dordt (Iowa) next Wednesday at the Sanford Sports Complex on Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The Trojans then play a pair of exhibition games against NCAA Division II opponents—Nebraska Kearney on Nov. 14 and Northern State (S.D.) on Nov. 19.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is playing their second road contest of the season on Wednesday (tonight).  The Trojans are seeking for their first road victory since Jan. 13, 2024, where they defeated at Dickinson State (N.D.) 59-53. 
+ Both Dakota State and Dakota Wesleyan split their season series last season, with each team winning on the home court.  The Tigers won the first meeting at the Corn Palace on Oct. 29, 2023, by the score of 82-67.
+ DSU won the last meeting with DWU, held at DSU Fieldhouse, in the first annual Battle of the Blues contest.  The Trojans rallied for a 77-76 thrilling victory after a 3-pointer shot was made at the buzzer.
+ Dakota State is seeking for their first road victory at Dakota Wesleyan since Jan. 16, 2013.  The Tigers won the next seven meetings until DSU defeated DWU 76-67 at DSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 2, 2017. 
+ The Trojans are playing two straight games against members of the Great Plains Athletic Conference (Dakota Wesleyan and Dordt, Iowa).
+ Dakota State poured in a season-high 122 points after their victory over Providence (Manitoba) on Nov. 2, scoring the third most points scored in DSU men's basketball program single-game record book.
+ The Trojans tied a season-high 32 assists in their victory over the Pilots on Nov. 2, the second time that DSU had dished out 32 assists in a game (versus Oak Hills, Minn., on Oct. 24), which is tied for fourth most assists in single game.
+ Dakota State plays a pair of exhibition games on Nov. 14 at Nebraska-Kearney and Nov. 19 at Northern State (S.D.). 

Noteworthy...
TROJANS OPEN HOME SCHEDULE WITH 4-0 RECORD:  Dakota State (S.D.) kicked off their home schedule with a 4-0 record, the second straight year that the Trojans opened the home schedule with four straight wins.  DSU averages 104.3 points per game at home, while holding their opponents to 63.0 points per game.  Dakota State was 157-of-296 from the field (53 percent), including 49-of-142 from the 3-point line in their four home contests this season.  DSU extended their home court winning streak to five games.

DSU IN THE SCHOOL RECORD BOOK:   Several records were listed in the Dakota State men's basketball school record after their 122-72 victory over Providence (Manitoba).  The Trojans produced a 50-point margin of victory, the seventh largest margin of victory in school history.  DSU made 47 field goals in the game, the third most field goals made in a single-game. DSU's 122 points is the third most points scored in a single game in the men's basketball school record book.

DAKOTA STATE AT SANFORD SPORTS COMPLEX:  Dakota State returns to the Sanford Sports Complex next Wednesday as they take on (RV) Dordt (Iowa) from the Great Plains Athletic Conference.  The Trojans face the Defenders on the Pentagon court for the third straight year in Sioux Falls, S.D.  Both teams were former members of the South Dakota-Iowa Conference (SDIC Conference in the late 1990's).
 
2024-25 DSU MEN'S BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM OPENS HOME MONDAY:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team kicked off their season with an 83-80 setback at Dordt (Iowa) on Nov. 4.  The Trojans begin their three-game home stand on Monday versus Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Northwestern (Iowa) next Thursday (Nov. 14) at DSU Fieldhouse.

Knights hand Trojans first setback of the season
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) was unable to hold on to their 36-28 halftime lead at Luther Student Center, falling short to NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) by the score of 67-63.  The Knights outscored the Trojans 39-27 in the final twenty minutes of the game. 

DSU raced to a 7-0 lead in the first 1:15 of the game and ballooned their lead to 12-3 with 15:40 to go in the first half.  The Trojans earned their first double digit lead of the game at 20-9 halfway through the first half and held an eight-point lead. 

Dakota State maintained their lead between four– and nine-points for the first ten-plus minutes in the second half.  DSU posted their largest lead of the game at 57-45 with 9:21 remaining.  Martin Luther mounted an 18-6 closing run in the final 9:10 of the game to secure the victory.

Colby Dillenbeck paced the Trojans with a season-high 16 points on his 8-of-12 field goals.  He pulled down four rebounds and stole the ball twice.  Aiden Jensen scored 10 points off the bench and grabbed five rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen had nine points and stole the ball four times. 

Martin Luther shot 46.2 percent from the field (24-of-52 field goals) compared to Dakota State 41.2 percent (28-of-62 field goals).  MLC outrebounded the Trojans 32-27 in the game.

Dakota State sweeps Providence (Manitoba) at home
Madison, S.D. (Nov. 1-2, 2024)—Dakota State (S.D.) produced a pair of sweep over Providence (Manitoba) at DSU Fieldhouse, extending their home court winning streak to five games dating from last season.

The Trojans opened with a 93-53 victory over the Pilots on Nov. 1.  The Trojans poured in a season-high 56 points in the first half and never trailed.

Colby Dillenbeck spared DSU with a game-high 21 points.  Lane Tietz added 18 points.  Ethan Slaathaug had nine points and five rebounds.

The Trojans posted another first-half season high with 68 points, rolling to a 122-72 victory to complete the sweep of the Pilots on Nov. 2.  DSU used a 16-2 scoring outburst midway in the first half, extending their lead d to 36-19 with 8:21 to go.  The Trojans led 68-37 by halftime and outscored the Pilots 54-35 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

All 15 Dakota State players scored in the game.  Tietz poured in a season-high 20 points. Pankonen added 17 points and three steals.  Aiden Jensen had 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds.  Isaac Sumption had 11 points and three assists.

A look back to last year's Battle of the Blues
Madison, S.D. (Oct. 30, 2024)—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. 

The victory also ended Dakota State's 11-game losing skid in the series meeting with Dakota Wesleyan, with the last victory coming on Jan. 2, 2017, at DSU Fieldhouse.

2024-25 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Colby Dillenbeck - 75 points (15.0 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Colby Dillenbeck - 77.5 percent (31-of-40 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 45.2 percent (14-of-32 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 83.3 percent (10-of-12 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Aiden Jensen - 23 rebounds (4.6 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 14 assists (2.8 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 14 steals (2.8 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Tyler Beckwith - 4 blocks (0.8 blocks per game)