December 9, 2024

MADISON, S.D. – There was a total of 15 ties and nine lead changes, with the lead no greater than eight points during the non-conference men's basketball game between Dakota State (S.D.) and NCAA Division III Crown (Minn.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Polars edged out the Trojans by the score of 80-77, handing DSU their first home setback of the season.

Dakota State concluded their non-conference schedule with a 7-5 record.  Crown, a member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, lifted their overall record to 6-2.

The Trojans begin their 15-game North Star Athletic Association schedule Saturday as they host Mayville State (N.D.).  The tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at DSU Fieldhouse.

Crown (Minn.) 80, Dakota State (S.D.) 77 – FINAL

Both teams traded leads nine times and tied four times during the first twenty minutes of the game.  Crown opened the game with a 13-7 lead after Tyrus Buckner's basket with fifteen minutes and twenty-five seconds on the clock.

Dakota State answered with a 7-0 scoring run to regain their lead at 14-13, capped by a 3-pointer by Lane Tietz (assisted by Brayden Pankonen) with 12:40 to go in the first half.

Tied at 23-23, Rysley Borman sparked the Trojans' 5-0 scoring run with a 3-pointer followed by a basket by Tyler Beckwith to earn a 28-23 lead with 6:13 left before halftime.

The Polars answered with a 12-3 scoring run, earning a 35-31 lead with a pair of free throws from Carter Behne with 3:18 on the clock.

Pankonen hit a pair of free-throws registered the fourth tie of the game at 37-37 with 1:17 on the clock in the first half.  The Trojans trailed 39-38 by halftime.

Dakota State was 13-of-34 from the field in the first half (38.2 percent) and held Crown to 13-of-36 field goals (36.1 percent).

Both teams traded leads in the first two minutes of the second half, opening with a basket by Colby Dillenbeck for DSU's 40-39 lead with 19:45 on the clock. 

After Pankonen's 3-pointer to put DSU up 45-44, the Polars hit three straight 3-point field goals to spark a 9-0 scoring run for the biggest lead of the game.  Behne hit back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a 3-pointer by John Grigsby to give Crown a 53-45 lead with 16:31 remaining.

Trailing 62-54, Dakota State went on an 8-0 scoring run to knot the game at 62-62 after a basket by Lukas Morgan with 8:26 left.

At 67-67, Tietz made a basket followed by a pair of free throws by Pankonen opened a 71-67 lead for the Trojans with 4:08 remaining.

The Polars went on a 10-1 scoring run in a span of three-and-half minutes.  Micah Ladd hit a pair of free-throws to give Crown a 77-72 lead with nearly 30 seconds to go in the game.

DSU's Tietz answered with a layup on the next possession to cut CC's lead to 77-74 with 26.6 seconds to go.  The Polars added a free throw on the next possession by Ladd for a 78-74 lead with 23.9 seconds remaining.

Tietz drained a 3-pointer as the Trojans trailed 78-77 with 17.6 seconds left.  The Trojans committed a foul on the next possession, sending John Grigsby to the free-throw line.  He hit both free throws to stretch CC's lead to 80-77 with 11 seconds left.

Dakota State was unable to convert on the next possession as Crown secured the victory.

The Polars outscored the Trojans 41-39 in the final twenty minutes.  Crown was 11-of-30 from the field in the second half (36.7 percent), including 9-of-23 from the 3-point line.  Dakota State was 36.4 percent from the field (12-of-33 field goals) and 3-of-9 3-pointers.

Dillenbeck led the Trojans with 16 points on his 5-of-7 field goals and 6-of-6 free-throws.  Tietz added 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists.  Taine Mitchell tallied 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.  Pankonen had nine points and three rebounds.  Beckwith and Aiden Jensen each had seven points.  Calvin Payne grabbed six rebounds.  Morgan scored five points and collected six rebounds. 

Grigsby recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for the Polars.  Buckner added 19 points and five rebounds (7-of-12 field goals).  Behne had 14 points and four rebounds.  Parker Behne had 12 points off the bench.  Ladd dished out a game-high nine assists.  Grigsby and Rayquan Moore each registered two blocked shots.

Dakota State shot 37.3 percent overall from the field (25-of-67 field goals) and 7-of-21 from the 3-point line.  Crown was 36.4 percent from the field (24-of-66 field goals) and 14-of-38 3-pointers.

The Trojans converted 20 free throws in 26 attempts (76.9 percent) compared to the Polars 18-of-24 free throws. 

DSU outrebounded CC 47-38.  The Trojans outscored the Polars 34-12 inside the paint and 23-18 in bench points.