January 4, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – Bellevue (Neb.) shot 55.8 percent from the field to kick off the New Year 2025, defeating Dakota State (S.D.) 64-47 in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action Saturday evening at DSU Fieldhouse. Saturday's contest also marked the conclusion of the Trojans' season-high six-game home stand.

Dakota State fell to 7-8 overall record and 0-3 NSAA conference record after their fourth straight defeat.  Bellevue improved to 10-6 overall record and 2-1 record in the league.  Both teams will meet two more times this season, both meetings at Bellevue on Jan. 17 and Feb. 7.

DSU heads on the road for the first time in the North Star Athletic Association action next weekend.  The Trojans visit the conference's leader Dickinson State (N.D.) Friday at 8:30 p.m. (Central Time)/7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time), held at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.  Dakota State wraps up their first round of NSAA conference play at Jamestown (N.D.) next Saturday at 3 p.m.

Bellevue (Neb.) 64, Dakota State (S.D.) 47 – FINAL

Dakota State went on an 10-0 scoring run, thanks to four straight baskets made, to earn an eight-point lead.  Lane Tietz sparked the scoring run with a fast break layup, followed by a 3-pointer from Tyler Beckwith.

Brayden Pankonen capped the scoring run with a 3-pointer (assisted by Beckwith) as DSU's lead grew to 10-2 with seventeen minutes and six seconds on the clock in the first half.

Bellevue went on a 12-4 scoring run, highlighted by a basket from RJ Smith (assisted by Liam Thompson) to tie the game to 14-14 with less than 11 minutes to go in the first.

Both teams traded lead six times in the first 12-plus minutes of the game before the Bruins made a late surge.  The Bruins went on a 10-0 scoring run to erase a 20-19 deficit into a 29-20 lead after a basket by Smith with 3:51 remaining before intermission.

The Trojans then scored four straight points, capped by a basket by Aiden Jensen (assisted by Taine Mitchell).  DSU trailed 29-24, forcing BU to call a timeout with 2:35 left in the first half.

Connor Mohr drained a 3-pointer as the Bruins closed the first half with a 33-24 lead.

Bellevue shot 13-of-22 from the field (59.1 percent) compared to Dakota State 10-of-27 field goals (37 percent) in the first twenty minutes of the game.

Dakota State could get no closer than seven points at two different occasions – 35-28 with 17:13 left after Tietz's basket and 41-34 with 13:43 remaining after Isaac Sumption's 3-pointer.

BU went on a 14-4 scoring run, highlighted by a 3-poitner by Raphael Allen, ballooning their lead to 55-38 with 8:11 to go.

The Bruins maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  Bellevue outscored Dakota State 31-23 in the final twenty minutes of the game.

Tietz led the Trojans with 13 points on his 6-of-11 field goals.  He also had four rebounds.  Jensen scored eight points off the bench.  He also registered three rebounds and two blocks.  Colby Dillenbeck and Pankonen each had six points.  Dillenbeck stole the ball three times.  Taine Mitchell dished out four assists.  Beckwith, Sumption, Lukas Morgan, and Hayden Anderson each scored three points. 

Nigel Wilson led the Bruins with 14 points and five rebounds.  Emarr Vinson added 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.  Smith had 10 points and four assists.  Thompson contributed three assists.

Bellevue was 24-of-43 from the field compared to Dakota State 18-of-49 field goals (36.7 percent).  Both teams made six 3-pointers in the game.  The Bruins were 10-of-16 free throws to the Trojans 5-of-12 free throws.

BU outrebounded DSU 34-24 in the game.