February 26, 2024
MADISON, S.D. – Three Dakota State (S.D.) athletes collected awards Monday afternoon, when the 2023-24 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference and postseason awards were announced by the conference office.
Mison Coilton, 6-foot-2 junior forward from Stockton, Calif., was named to the NSAA Men's Basketball All-Conference Second Team for the Trojans. He led the team in scoring with 14.2 points per game on his 158-of-323 field goals (48.9 percent), 31-of-73 3-pointers, and 64-of-95 free-throws this season.
Coilton averaged 16.8 points per game in 11 North Star conference game. He hit 50.7 percent from the field (71-of-140 field goals. He averaged 6.0 rebounds per game (6.9 rebounds per game during the conference season). He also averaged 1.4 steals per game (41 steals).
Brayden Pankonen, 5-foot-9 freshman guard from Dell Rapids, S.D., was voted as the North Star Men's Basketball Freshman of the Year. He finished the season with 9.4 points per game (8.4 points per game during the conference season). He drained 65-of-170 from the 3-point line (38.2 percent) and recorded 41 steals (1.4 steals per game).
Pankonen averaged 2.5 rebounds per game for DSU. He tied for the seventh most 3-point field goals made in a DSU's record book single game with seven 3-pointers versus the College of Ozarks (Mo.) on Nov. 9, 2023. He also registered the sixth best 3-opint field goals percentage in a single game with 77.8 percent in the same game (7-of-9 3-pointers).
Senior forward
Taylor Edwards of Hill City, S.D., was named the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Champions of Character recipient.
Dakota State, under the guidance of head coach
Darren Tighe, finished their season at 17-13 overall record. DSU fell short in the NSAA's semifinals round versus Bellevue (Neb.) on Feb. 25 by the score of 70-66. The Trojans' 17 victories are tied for the seventh most wins in a single season.
DSU also highlighted with nine consecutive wins during the season, which tied for the school record longest winning streak.
Below is the complete list of the 2023-24 NSAA Men's Basketball All-Conference and postseason awards:
2023-24 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams & Postseason Awards
First Team All-Conference
| Name |
School |
Class |
Ht. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Darren Jones |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Junior |
6-8 |
Forward |
San Bernardino, Calif. |
| Khyle Washington % |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Senior |
6-3 |
Guard |
Atlanta, Ga. |
| Jack Monis &!$ |
Viterbo (Wis.) |
Senior |
6-5 |
Forward |
Oconomowoc, Wis. |
| John Evans +#$ |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Junior |
6-4 |
Guard |
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
| Thomas Gieske !$ |
Mayville State (N.D.) |
Grad. |
6-3 |
Guard |
Sartell, Minn. |
Second Team All-Conference
| Name |
School |
Class |
Ht. |
Pos. |
Hometown |
| Mison Coilton |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
Junior |
6-2 |
Forward |
Stockton, Calif. |
| Jerome Bynum |
Bellevue (Neb.) |
Senior |
6-0 |
Guard |
Chicago, Ill. |
| Ugo Ejiofor |
Waldorf (Iowa) |
Junior |
6-8 |
Center |
Dallas, Texas |
| Cleveland Bedgood |
Valley City State (N.D.) |
Senior |
6-3 |
Guard |
Miami, Fla. |
| Trey Stevens |
Dickinson State (N.D.) |
Junior |
6-2 |
Guard |
Sparks, Nev. |
$ - 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference First Team
% - 2022-23 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference Second Team
! – 2021-22 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference First Team
# - 2021-22 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference Second Team
& - 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference First Team
+ - 2020-21 North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention
NSAA Men's Basketball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Darren Jones – Mayville State (N.D.)
Defensive Player of the Year: Ugo Ejiofor – Waldorf (Iowa)
Newcomer of the Year: Darren Jones – Mayville State (N.D.)
Freshman of the Year: Brayden Pankonen – Dakota State (S.D.)
Coach of the Year: Lucas Gabriel – Bellevue (Neb.)
NSAA Men's Basketball Honorable Mention
Jamison Kramer – Mayville State (N.D.)
TJ Fritz – Bellevue (Neb.)
Nick Malovrh – Viterbo (Wis.)
Khalil Grayson – Waldorf (Iowa)
Kose Egbule – Dickinson State (N.D.)
NSAA Men's Basketball All-Defense Team
Ugo Ejiofor – Waldorf (Iowa)
Kose Egbule – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Khyle Washington – Waldorf (Iowa)
Liam Thompson – Bellevue (Neb.)
Nick Malovrh – Viterbo (Wis.)
NSAA Men's Basketball Champions of Character recipients
Bellevue (Neb.) – Makeem Loudermill
Dakota State (S.D.) –
Taylor Edwards
Dickinson State (N.D.) – Tyce Dahlberg
Mayville State (N.D.) – Steele Senske
Valley City State (N.D.) – Hunter Lyman
Viterbo (Wis.) – Cole Crubel
Waldorf (Iowa) – Noah Miller
