Box Score November 6, 2025
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) went toe-to-toe with NCAA Division I South Dakota State Thursday night, leading early and cutting the deficit to a single possession multiple times in the second half, but the Trojans came up just short in a 68-62 road setback at First Bank & Trust Arena. It was an exhibition game for the Trojans (3-0 overall record), while the Jackrabbits lifted their overall record to 2-0.
Dakota State came out firing from the perimeter, knocking down six first-half 3-pointers and building a 6-point lead midway through the opening period. SDSU responded with a 13-0 run to swing momentum and took a 38-33 lead into the locker room.
The Trojans continued to battle in the second half, trimming a 9-point Jackrabbit lead to 62-60 after a 3-pointer from
Aiden Jensen with less than five minutes remaining. SDSU answered with back-to-back big shots, including a key 3-pointer from Jaden Jackson, who finished with a game-high 20 points.
Nathan Ojukwu led Dakota State with 15 points and six rebounds, shooting 7-of-15 from the field.
Lukas Morgan added seven points, five assists, and three steals, while
Brayden Pankonen scored nine points and hit three 3-pointers. The Trojans knocked down eight 3-pointers in the matchup.
Desman Botts finished with seven points and three steals off the bench, and Jensen provided a second-half spark with seven points, including a 3-pointer and a perfect 4-for-4 at the line.
Ryan Beckwith had seven points.
Dakota State shot 42.6 percent overall (23-of-54 field goals) and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc (8-of-24 3-pointers), while SDSU finished at 49 percent from the field (25-of-51 field goals) and 39 percent from 3-point range (9-of-23 3-pointers). The Jackrabbits held a narrow 34-28 rebounding edge in the game.
Up Next
Dakota State returns to regular season action Tuesday evening as they take their annual trip to the Sanford Sports Complex at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Trojans face (RV) Dordt (Iowa) before kicking off their 22-game Frontier Conference schedule. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
