January 22, 2025

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 22, 2025)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (7-11 overall record, 0-6 North Star Athletic Association record) returns home this weekend at DSU Fieldhouse, their first home contest since Jan. 4.  The Trojans take on a pair of top two North Star Athletic Association teams, with each team currently on a six-game winning streak.

The Trojans seek to earn their first league win of the season Friday evening as they host Jamestown (N.D.) (11-9 overall record, 6-1 NSAA conference record).  The annual cancer awareness game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink clothing or sneakers to help raise cancer awareness (Coaches vs. Cancer).

Dakota State welcome the league NSAA conference's leader Dickinson State (N.D.) (12-7 overall record, 7-0 NSA conference record).  The game is set for a 5 p.m. tip-off, wrapping up the DSU alumni weekend.

The Trojans fell short for their first conference win this season on Jan. 17, dropping a 68-63 road contest at Bellevue (Neb.).

Both Jamestown and Dickinson State concluded their four-game home stand undefeated last weekend.  UJ defeated Mayville State (N.D.) 88-82 on Jan. 17 and Valley City State (N.D.) 72-56 on Jan. 18.  The Blue Hawks defeated VCSU 93-74 on Ja. 17 and MSU 82-64 on Jan. 18 to kick off the second round robin of NSAA action.

Up Next:  Dakota State begins their another three-game North Star conference road stretch, starting next Friday, Jan. 31, at Mayville State at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse.  The Trojans then travel to Valley City State next Saturday, Feb. 1, at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first win during the month of January.  The Trojans' last victory came on Dec. 4 at DSU Fieldhouse when they edged Great Plains Athletic Conference foe's Midland (Neb.) 73-71.
+ The Trojans hold a 11-10 series record over Jamestown (N.D.) in the last 21 meetings since Jan. 19, 2013.  The Jimmies had won the previous five meetings, including the 94-73 victory in the first NSAA meeting on Jan. 11 in Jamestown.
+ Dakota State's last victory over Jamestown was on Dec. 1, 2017, at DSU Fieldhouse by the score of 69-61 (the last year when UJ was a member of the North Star Athletic Association).
+ Dickinson State (N.D.) rallied back for a 72-69 victory over Dakota State in the first NSAA conference meeting on Jan. 10 in Dickinson, N.D., where the Trojans opened the game with a 15-0 outburst.
+ The Trojans are seeking for their last home victory over the Blue Hawks since Feb. 11, 2022, where Dakota State edged Dickinson State 68-66 in overtime at DSU Fieldhouse.
+ Dakota State will play Jamestown and Dickinson State for the third North Star Athletic Association meeting during the final regular-season weekend on Feb. 21-22 in North Dakota.
+ The Trojans are 6-4 record at home this season.  The Jimmies are 5-6 record on the road, while the Blue Hawks are 5-3 road record prior to this weekend's contests.
+ Prior to this weekend's games, Dakota State have four home contests remaining on their 2024-25 schedule.
 
Noteworthy...
2024-25 REMAINING SCHEDULE:  Dakota State (S.D.) have nine games remaining on their 2024-25 schedule, including four home contests at DSU Fieldhouse.  After their two-games home stand this weekend, the Trojans play their second NSAA three-game road stretch next weekend.  Dakota State comes back to DSU Fieldhouse for their final regular-season home contest on Feb. 14-15 before playing their final regular-season road contests on Feb. 21-22.  The NSAA postseason tournament begins on Feb. 26 at higher seeds.

TROJANS IN THE NSAA CONFERENCE RANKS:  According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State's Colby Dillenbeck ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association in field goal percentage of 63.0 percent (85-of-135 field goals).  Taine Mitchell ranks fifth in the North Star conference with 3.1 assists per game for the Trojans.  He is also sixth in the conference with 5.6 rebounds per game.  Brayden Pankonen and Lane Tietz are tied for 10th in the NSAA conference with 1.2 steals per game. 

AG BALL GAME:  Save the date on Friday, Feb. 14, as the Dakota State University Athletics department will hold their annual Ag Bowl contest, saying thank you to all of the agriculture business for the local economic growth.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) in the Ag Ball contest, where the Trojans defeated the Comets 84-79 in last year's Ag Ball contest at DSU Fieldhouse on Jan. 26, 2024.
 
2024-25 DSU MEN'S BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM UPDATES:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team fell to Northwestern (Iowa) 83-68 on the road on Jan. 20.  The Trojans are 4-3 overall record this season and continue their action Thursday versus Mount Marty (S.D.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  DSU then travels to Dordt (Iowa) Monday to begin their three-game road trip.

Bruins edge Trojans 68-63 in NSAA action in Bellevue
Bellevue, Neb. (Jan. 17, 2025)—Bellevue (Neb.) held off Dakota State' (S.D.) late comeback in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action at Gordon Lozier Athletic Conference.  The Bruins edged the Trojans by the score of 68-63 to earn their second NSAA meeting victory this season. 

Bellevue led 36-31 by halftime, where both teams made 12 field goals.  The Bruins shot 52.2 percent from the field (12-of-23 field goals), while the Trojans shot 48 percent 12-of-25 field goals).

BU maintained their lead between three– and eight points for more than 13 minutes in the second half until they recorded the biggest lead of the game.  Trailing 61-54, the Trojans kept the Bruins scoreless, reducing their deficit to three points (61-58 with less than two minutes to go).  DSU could not regain their lead as BU secured the victory in the closing seconds.  Both teams scored 32 points in the second half.

Four Dakota State players scored in double digits, led by Lane Tietz with 15 points.  Colby Dillenbeck added 11 points.  Taine Mitchell and Aiden Jensen each had 10 points. 

DSU shot 43.1 percent overall from the field (22-of-51 field goals) compared to BU 51.2percent (21-of-41 field goals).  The Bruins hit 20-of-26 free-throws to the Trojans 15-of-21 free throws.

Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 22, 2025) —According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Wednesday, Dakota State  is second in the North Star Athletic Association in rebounding.  The Trojans average 39.7 rebounds per game and hold a plus 6.3 rebounds margin.

DSU ranks second in the league with 11.6 offensive rebounds per game.   The Trojans lead the North Star conference with 16.8 assists per game and third in blocks per game with an average of 2.7 blocks.

Dakota State ranks second in the North Star conference in field goal shooting defense, allowing their opponents to 43.2 percent (473-of-1096 field goals).  The Trojans are also second in the league in scoring defense overall, limiting the opponents to 70.9 points per game.

Colby Dillenbeck and Lane Tietz rank 11th in the North Star conference in scoring offense, averaging 11.3 points per game prior to the games this weekend for the Trojans.

Calvin Payne is tied for third in the league in assist/turnover ratio of 2.3.  Brayden Pankonen is also ninth in the conference with 2.0 assist/turnover ratio, followed by Lukas Morgan 10th with 1.7 a/to ratio.

Dakota State's Trojan split stats
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 22, 2025)—Prior to this weekend's home contests at DSU Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) has been averaging 83.8 points per game in 10 home contests this season.  The Trojans shot 45.7 percent from the field (310-of-678 field goals) at home, while hitting 99 3-pointers.  The Trojans also converted 119-of-174 free throws at DSU Fieldhouse in 2024-25.

Dakota State is 6-4 record at home this season, seeking to clinch their third straight home court winning record since the 2022-23 season (7-6 home court record at DSU Fieldhouse).  The Trojans were 9-3 record at home last season, the most home victories since the 2017-18 season (11 home wins).

 The Trojans are seeking to snap their four-game home court losing skid this weekend, despite opening their 2024-25 schedule by reeling off six straight home wins.

Dakota State has four home regular-season home contests remaining on their 2024-25 schedule, hosting Jamestown (N.D.), Dickinson State (N.D.), Mayville State (N.D.), and Valley City State (N.D.).

2024-25 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Colby Dillenbeck, Lane Tietz - 204 points (11.3 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Colby Dillenbeck - 63.0 percent (85-of-135 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 38.5 percent (40-of-104 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 82.8 percent (24-of-29 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Taine Mitchell - 101 rebounds (5.6 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Taine Mitchell - 55 assists (3.1 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Lane Tietz, Brayden Pankonen - 22 steals (1.2 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Aiden Jensen - 8 blocks (0.4 blocks per game)