February 23, 2024

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Feb. 23, 2024)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (17-12 overall record) look to extend their season Sunday afternoon as they continue their action in the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Postseason Tournament. 

The fourth-seeded Trojans take on the North Star's regular-season champion and top-seeded Bellevue (Neb.) (13-15 overall record) in the semifinal round.  Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. at Gordon Lozier Center (1024 Bruin Blvd) in Bellevue, Neb.

Sunday's contest will be the third time that both Dakota State and Bellevue will meet in the NSAA postseason, their second time in the semifinals.  The last time they met in the postseason was in 2021, where DSU fell short in the championship game at Bellevue by the score of 63-57. 

The Trojans hit a season-high 15 3-pointers to roll past fifth-seeded Viterbo (Wis.) 85-61 in the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Postseason Tournament's quarterfinals round on Feb. 21.  Bellevue received a bye in the quarterfinals round and did not play since Feb. 17 where they defeated Valley City State (N.D.) by the score of 76-58.  The Bruins had won six straight home contests, all against members of the North Star Athletic Association since a 69-68 home thriller over the Trojans in the conference opener on Jan. 6.

DSU is seeking for a spot to the NSAA championship game for the fifth time in school history.

Up Next:  Sunday's semifinal winners will play in the NSAA's championship game on Sunday, March 3 at the highest remaining seed (No. 6 seed Dickinson State at No. 2 seed Mayville State is the other semifinal).

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Darren Tighe earned his 17th win as Dakota State (S.D.) men's basketball head coach, the most wins by a first-year head coach since legendary Ed Harter with an overall record of 17-6 in the 1963-64 season (former General Beadle State).
+ The Trojans are seeking for their first postseason victory on Bellevue's (Neb.) home court.  DSU fell short to the Bruins 63-57 in the 2021 NSAA championship game, as well as 69-62 overtime semifinal setback in the 2017 NSAA semifinal game. 
+ DSU is seeking for their first win over Bellevue on their home court since Dec. 11, 1999.  The Trojans had collected three North Star conference victories with the Bruins, all held at DSU Fieldhouse on Feb. 16, 2023, Dec. 5, 2022, and Feb. 17, 2017.
+ Dakota State is seeking to halt their three-game losing skid on the road against North Star opponents.  The last time DSU won on the road against NSAA member was on Jan. 13 with a 59-53 victory over Dickinson State (N.D.). 
+ The Trojans are 5-8 record on the road this season, including 2-4 record against North Star foes.  Bellevue is 11-4 record at home, including an undefeated 6-0 record versus NSAA members.
+ Dakota State is seeking for the a spot to the North Star Athletic Association Men's Championship game for the fifth time since the conference inception in 2013-14 season. 
+ The Trojans had won the NSAA Championship game in 2015 and 2016 seasons, both against Jamestown (N.D.) who will return to the NSAA conference next year.
+ The NSAA basketball postseason tournament's semifinals are the only NAIA basketball games scheduled for Sunday.

Noteworthy...
TROJANS ON THE ROAD IN NSAA POSTSEASON:  Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first North Star Athletic Association postseason road victory since Feb. 23, 2022, when the Trojans defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 74-68 in the quarterfinals round of the tournament.  During the 2020-21 season, Dakota State went on to win two straight road contests (defeated at Viterbo, Wis., followed by a victory at Mayville State, N.D. two days later) before falling in the NSAA postseason tournament championship game at Bellevue, Neb.

DSU-BU TEAM COMPARISONS:   Dakota State averages 75.4 points per game offensively, which is fourth in the conference.  Bellevue (Neb.) is last in the conference with 69.9 points per game.  The Bruins, however, lead the league in scoring defensive by holding their opponents to 66.9 points per game.  The Trojans are third with 72.2 points per game in scoring defense.  DSU records 43.9 percent from the field (799-of-1820) compared to BU 45.7 percent (709-of-1552 field goals).  

DAKOTA STATE IN THE NSAA RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Friday, Emmanuel Akpan is fourth in the North Star conference with 6.9 rebounds per game.  He is also five in the league with 53.2 percent from the field.  Mison Coilton ranks third in the conference with 42.3 percent from the 3-point field goal and sixth in scoring offense with 14.4 points per game.
 
NSAA AUTOMATIC BID:  The North Star Athletic Association have one automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.  The tournament's champion will receive the bid to the national tournament's first and second rounds on March 15-16 at the sites announced by the NAIA on Feb. 29.  The winners of the four-tea pods will advance to the final site in Kansas City, Mo., on March 21-26.

Trojans move to NSAA semifinals with win over V-Hawks
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) drained a season-high 15 3-pointers and shot a blazing 56.6 percent from the field, paving the way for an 85-61 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason victory over No. 5 seed Viterbo (Wis.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the first postseason game at DSU Fieldhouse since 2015-16 season.

After the V-Hawks opened the game with a 5-1 lead, the Trojans went on an 11-2 scoring run and never trailed for the rest of the game.  DSU ballooned their lead into double-digits at 23-13 with 9:21 to go in the first half.  Dakota State led 44-28 by halftime and maintained their double-dight lead for the remaining of the game to secure the victory.  Dakota State outscored Viterbo 41-33 in the final twenty minutes of the game. 

Four Trojan players scored in double-digits, paced by Emmanuel Akpan and Mison Coilton with 15 points each.  Akpan had three rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block.  Coilton dished out a season-high five assists and stole the ball twice.  Brayden Pankonen scored 14 points on his four 3-pointers.  He had two assists, two steals, and two rebounds.  Kenny Haynes tallied 10 points off the bench.  Uhana Ochan registered three blocks.   

DSU shot 30-of-53 from the field compared to VU 24-of-52 field goals.  Both teams had 29 rebounds.

NSAA Men's Basketball quarterfinals recap
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 21, 2024)—No. 6 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) highlighted with the lone road team victory in the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball quarterfinal round, defeating No. 3 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 77-67 in Forest City, Iowa.

Two other higher seeds earn their victory on their home court, with No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) defeating No. 5 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 85-61 at DSU Fieldhouse.  No. 2 seed Mayville State (N.D.) held off No. 7 seed Valley City State (N.D.) by the score of 82-68 in Mayville, N.D. 

The NSAA regular-season champion Bellevue (Neb.) received a bye in the quarterfinal round and will host Dakota State in the semifinals on Sunday afternoon.  The other semifinal action takes place in Mayville, N.D., where MSU welcomes Dickinson State.

The semifinal winners will advance to the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Postseason Tournament's championship game, which is slated for Sunday, March 3, at the highest remaining seed.

The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament First & Second Rounds on March 15-16, held at the sites announced by the NAIA.

A look back to Dakota State-Bellevue series
Madison, S.D. (Feb. 22, 2024)—Bellevue (Neb.) swept the North Star Athletic Association season series with Dakota State (S.D.) this season, earning their 7th win in the last eight meetings.

The Bruins held off the Trojans' furious comeback in the first North Star conference meeting on Jan. 6.  DSU's tip-in at the buzzer was waved off as the Trojans fell short by the score of 69-68 at Gordon Lozier Center in Bellevue, Neb.  BU won the last 13 home games with DSU since Nov. 26, 2011.

Dakota State could not come up with a victory with Bellevue at DSU Fieldhouse on Feb. 7, with the Bruins winning by the score of 65-53.  The Trojans are seeking for their first win on BU's home court since Dec. 11, 1999.  The last time DSU defeated BU was on Feb. 16, 2023, by the score of 69-59.

Bellevue is 2-0 record in the NSAA postseason action with Dakota State, with the most recent action in the 2021 NSAA Championship game in Bellevue (BU won 63-57).  The other postseason contest was in the semifinals round with the Bruins coming on top in overtime thriller by the score of 69-62.

2023-24 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Mison Coilton - 403 points (14.4 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Emmanuel Akpan - 53.2 percent (107-of-201 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Mison Coilton - 42.3 percent (30-of-71 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 81.3 percent (52-of-64 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Emmanuel Akpan - 200 rebounds (6.9 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Japjit Gill - 85 assists (2.9 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 40 steals (1.4 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Emmanuel Akpan - 21 blocks (0.7 blocks per game)