January 30, 2025

This Week's Preview
MADISON, S.D. (Jan. 30, 2025)—The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (8-12 overall record, 1-7 North Star Athletic Association record) concludes their second round robin of North Star Athletic Association action this weekend with a pair of games in North Dakota.  The Trojans play their second three-game road stretch in the NSAA conference action.

DSU travels to Lewy Lee Fieldhouse (330 3rd Street NE) in Mayville, N.D., Friday evening for the North Star conference contest against Mayville State (N.D.) (13-8 overall record, 4-4 NSAA conference record).  The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Dakota State then heads to Valley City State (N.D.) (10-10 overall record, 1-7 NSAA conference record) Saturday evening for another North Star contest.  The tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse (730 8th Ave. SW) in Valley City, N.D.

The Trojans snapped their seven-game losing skid with an 83-60 home victory over Jamestown (N.D.) on Jan. 24 at DSU Fieldhouse, their first win over UJ since Dec. 1, 2017.  Dakota State fell short to the conference's leader Dickinson State (N.D.) on Jan. 25 by the score of 63-58. 

Despite trailing 25-22 by halftime on Jan. 24, Mayville State used their second half scoring surge by outscoring Valley City State 43-23 for a 65-48 victory. 

Up Next:  Dakota State begins their third round robin action in the North Star conference next Friday (Feb. 7), returning to Bellevue (Neb.) at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. 

This Week's Quick Hits
+ Dakota State (S.D.) is seeking for their first road victory this season, with the last road victory coming on Jan. 13, 2024, with a 59-53 victory at Dickinson State (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action.
+ Mayville State (N.D.) held off the Trojans 72-63 in the first NSAA conference meeting earlier this season on Dec. 14, 2024, at DSU Fieldhouse.  DSU is seeking for their first win in Mayville since Feb. 23, 2022, where the Trojans earned a 74-68 victory in the NSAA postseason tournament's quarterfinals.
+ Valley City State (N.D.) edged out Dakota State 83-79 in overtime at DSU Fieldhouse in their first North Star conference meeting on Dec. 15, 2024. 
+ The Trojans defeated the Vikings 81-72 in the last road contest held in Valley City, N.D., on Jan. 12, 2024.  DSU swept the season series with VCSU during the 2023-24 season.
+ After this weekend's action in the North Star conference, each conference member will have five games remaining on their 2024-25 schedule before the conference postseason tournament begins on Feb. 26.
+ Dakota State is tied for third in the league in scoring defense, allowing 72.0 points per game during eight NSAA conference games.  Mayville State is fifth with 79.7 points allowed in conference games, while Valley City State is sixth with 84.3 points allowed per game.
+ The Trojans hit a conference season-high 14 3-pointers in 83-60 victory over Jamestown (N.D.) on Jan. 24.

Noteworthy...
TROJANS PLAY SECOND THREE-GAME NSAA ROAD TRIP:  Dakota State (S.D.) plays their second three-game road stretch in the North Star conference play.  The first three-game road stretch started on Jan. 10-11 in North Dakota (Dickinson State and Jamestown), followed by a contest at Bellevue (Neb.).  This weekend, DSU returns to North Dakota (Mayville State and Valley City State) and returns to Bellevue on Feb. 7.

DSU AT THE 3-POINT LINE:  Dakota State hit a conference season-high 14 3-pointers during their 83-60 victory over Jamestown (N.D.) on Jan. 24.  It was the eighth time this season that the Trojans had produced double-digit 3-point field goals made, including a season-high 15 3-pointers during their 122-72 victory over Providence (Manitoba) on Nov. 2.  DSU also had made 14 3-pointers in their season opening win over Oak Hills (Minn.) on Oct. 24.

AG BALL GAME:  Pack the DSU Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 14 as the Dakota State University Athletics Department hosts the annual Ag Ball contest versus Mayville State (N.D.).  The Ag Ball contest is an event from DSU Athletics department by saying thank you to all of the agriculture business for the local economic growth.  DSU defeated the Comets 84-79 in last year's Ag Ball contest at DSU Fieldhouse.
 
2024-25 DSU MEN'S BASKETBALL DEVELOPMENTAL TEAM UPDATES:  The 2024-25 Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball developmental team won the previous two games to raise their overall record to 6-3.  The Trojans remained undefeated at home after holding off Mount Marty (S.D.) 77-75 on Jan. 23 and held on for their first road victory at Dordt (Iowa) 99-94 on Jan. 27.  DSU stays on the road Monday at rival Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).  DSU plays their final home contest on Feb. 17 versus Morningside (Iowa).

Trojans snap losing skid for first conference win
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 24, 2025)—Dakota State shot a sizzling 52.4 percent from the field, snapping their seven-game losing skid with an 83-60 victory over Jamestown (N.D.) in the North Star Athletic Association action at DSU Fieldhouse.  It was the largest margin of victory for DSU over UJ since Feb. 29, 2016, during the NSAA conference's championship game held at DSU Fieldhouse.

Leading 27-22, Aiden Jensen highlighted DSU's 9-2 scoring outburst with three straight 3-pointers to grab a 36-24 lead.  The Trojans led 36-26 by halftime.

Jamestown got no closer than six points at two different occasions in the second half.  At 47-38, the Trojans went on a 23-12 scoring run capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Nolan Segner and Isaac Sumption for a 70-50 lead.  DSU produced the largest lead at 78-52 with 3:44 remaining and never trailed.

Jensen scored a season-high 19 points for the Trojans.  He was 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-7 from the 3-point line.  He had six rebounds and a block.  Lane Tietz added 20 points (8-of-16 field goals) and four assists.  Segner tallied 10 points and four rebounds.  Brayden Pankonen scored eight points.  Tyler Beckwith had a season-high five assists.  

DSU shot 33-of-63 from the field compared to UJ 38.1 percent (24-of-63 field goals).

NSAA's conference leader DiSU defeats DSU 63-58
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 25, 2025) — Dakota State (S.D.) and North Star Athletic Association leader Dickinson State (N.D.) struggled offensively at DSU Fieldhouse, shooting below 40 percent.  The Blue Hawks held off the Trojans in closing seconds by the score of 63-58.

After trailing 15-8, Dakota State went on a 15-2 scoring outburst to earn a 23-17 lead after Calvin Payne's basket with 6:44 to go.  The Blue Hawks closed the first half with a 14-6 run to grab a slim 31-29 halftime lead.

The Blue Hawks grabbed the game's biggest lead at 44-35 with 12:07 remaining.  The Trojans then went on an 8-0 scoring run to cut their deficit to 44-43 with 11:11 left.  The game was close throughout as DiSU secured the victory by hitting all six free throws in the final minute.

Lukas Morgan scored 15 points off the bench for DSU.  Tyler Beckwith added 10 points and four rebounds.  Taine Mitchell had eight points and six rebounds.  Lane Tietz and Brayden Pankonen each had seven points and four assists.  Aiden Jensen collected eight rebounds.

DSU shot 32.8 percent overall from the field (22-of-67 field goals) to DiSU 37.1 percent (23-of-62 FGs).

Trojans in the North Star conference ranks
Madison, S.D. (Jan. 30, 2025)—According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Colby Dillenbeck ranks second in the North Star Athletic Association in field goal percentage of 63.0 percent (85-of-135 field goals) for Dakota State (S.D.).

Lane Tietz is 10th in the North Star conference with 11.6 points per game, followed by Dillenbeck 11th with 11.3 points per game for the Trojans. 

Taine Mitchell ranks sixth in the league with 5.7 rebounds per game for DSU.  Aiden Jensen also ranks ninth with 4.3 rebounds per game.  Mitchell and Tietz each average 2.9 assists per game, which is tied for sixth best assists average in the North Star conference.

Dakota State leads the North Star conference with 16.9 assists per game this season.  The Trojans are also third in the league with 7.2 steals per game.

DSU is second overall in the NSAA conference in scoring defense, allowing the opponents to 70.0 points per game in 20 games this season.

2024-25 Dakota State Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game:  Lane Tietz - 231 points (11.6 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage:  Colby Dillenbeck - 63.0 percent (85-of-135 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 36.1 percent (43-of-119 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage:  Brayden Pankonen - 81.8 percent (26-of-31 free-throws)
• Rebounds:  Taine Mitchell - 113 rebounds (5.7 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game:  Taine Mitchell - 58 assists (2.9 assists per game)
• Steals/Steals Per Game:  Brayden Pankonen - 24 steals (1.2 steals per game)
• Blocked Shots:  Aiden Jensen - 9 blocks (0.5 blocks per game)