January 11, 2025
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Jamestown (N.D.) shot a sizzling 63.9 percent (23-of-36 field goals) in the second half to pull away past Dakota State (S.D.) 94-73 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action Saturday evening at Harold Newman Arena. Holding a slim 39-38 halftime lead, the Jimmies outscored the Trojans 55-35 in the final twenty minutes to secure the victory.
Dakota State dropped their overall record to 7-10 and 0-5 NSAA conference record. Jamestown, who returned to the North Star conference for the first time since the 2017-18 season, improved their overall record to 9-9 and 4-1 record in the league.
Both teams will be meeting for their second NSAA conference meeting on Jan. 25 at DSU Fieldhouse.
Saturday's contest was the first meeting between both teams since Dec. 7, 2021 (non-conference). The last time they faced each other in the North Star conference was on Jan. 20, 1018.
Dakota State begins their second-round robin of North Star conference play on Friday. The Trojans visit Bellevue (Neb.) with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in Bellevue, Neb.
Jamestown (N.D.) 94, Dakota State (S.D.) 73 – FINAL
Dakota State opened the game with a 4-0 lead after a pair of baskets from
Tyler Beckwith and
Taine Mitchell. The Trojans kept the Jimmies scoreless for the first three-plus minutes of the game.
Anthony Walters hit a 3-pointer as UJ ended their scoring drought with 16:52 on the clock (DSU led 4-3).
The Trojans then made three straight baskets as part of their 8-0 scoring outburst, ignited by Mitchell's basket followed by a pair of 3-pointers from
Aiden Jensen and
Brayden Pankonen for a 12-3 lead with 15:15 on the clock.
Beckwith drained a 3-pointer (assisted by
Isaac Sumption) to give DSU the biggest lead of the first half at 19-7 with 12:07 to go before halftime.
With Dakota State leading 25-18, Jamestown went on 13-4 scoring run to earn their first lead of the game at 31-29 after Ayden Stainbrook's basket with 4:26 left.
The Trojans closed the first half as Pankonen drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Mitchell), cutting UJ's lead to 39-38.
Dakota State shot a blazing 60 percent from the field (15-of-25 field goals), including 6-of-12 3-pointers in the first half. Jamestown was held to 37.8 percent (14-of-37 field goals) and made eight 3-pointers in 17 attempts.
DSU kicked off the second half with a 3-pointer from
Colby Dillenbeck to regain their lead at 41-39.
Dakota State and Jamestown traded leads and tied once in the first four minutes of the second half before the Jimmies made a scoring run.
Leading 56-52, UJ went on a monstrous 24-6 scoring run to balloon their lead to 80-58 after Silas Bennion's basket with 6:32 remaining.
The Jimmies maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, securing the victory.
Beckwith scored a season-high 16 points on his 6-of-12 field goals for Dakota State. Dillenbeck added 11 points (5-of-6 field goals). Pankonen tallied nine points and three rebounds. Mitchell had eight points and four rebounds.
Lukas Morgan recorded seven points off the bench for DSU. Jensen and
Nolan Segner each added five points. Jensen had two blocks.
Bennion scored 22 points (8-of-18 field goals, including 4-of-5 from the 3-point arc) for the Jimmies. Stainbrook added 18 points (7-of-10 field goals, 4-of-7 3-pointers), four rebounds, and two steals. Owen Hektner had 16 points. Anthony Walters had 15 points.
Jamestown shot 50.7 percent overall from the field (37-of-73 field goals) compared to Dakota State 49.1 percent (28-of-57 field goals). The Jimmies drained 17 3-pointers in 34 attempts (50 percent), while the Trojans were 10-of-27 from the 3-point line.
DSU converted 7-of-8 free-throws. UJ made all three free throw attempts.
The Trojans outrebounded the Jimmies 35-31. Jamestown outscored Dakota State 23-2 in points off turnovers.
