January 31, 2025

MAYVILLE, N.D. – After building up a double-digit lead in the first half Friday evening in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse, Dakota State (S.D.) held off Mayville State's (N.D.) second half run for a 70-67 victory.  The Trojans earned their first road victory this season.

Dakota State improved to 9-12 overall record and 2-7 NSAA conference record.  Mayville State fell to 13-9 overall record and 4-5 NSAA conference record.  It was the Comets' third defeat in the last four NSAA conference contests.

Both teams split their season series.  They will meet for their third meeting on Friday, Feb. 14, in the annual Ag Ball contest at DSU Fieldhouse.

Dakota State stays on the road Saturday evening, visiting Valley City State (N.D.) in another North Star contest.  The game is slated to tip off at 5 p.m. at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) 70, Mayville State (N.D.) 67 – FINAL

Both teams struggled to find their offense rhythm in the first half.  Tied at 16-16 with five minutes and thirty-six seconds on the clock, Dakota State erupted for a 12-2 outburst.  Tyler Beckwith drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Taine Mitchell) to give the Trojans the biggest lead at 28-18 with 1:19 to go before halftime.

Mayville State closed the first half with a 4-0 scoring run, capped by a pair of free throws from Justin Fisher.  DSU held 28-22 lead by halftime.

The Trojans shot 11-of-39 from the field (28.2 percent) in the first half compared to the Comets 25 percent (8-of-32 field goals). 

Dakota State maintained their lead between two- and six-points in the first five minutes of the second half.  Mayville State knotted the game 38-38 with 15:09 left after Devin Griffin's layup.

Both teams traded leads or tied the game for the rest of the second half until the Trojans pulled away in closing seconds.  Trailing 65-63, Beckwith hit a jump shot to tie the game 65-65 with 1:47 remaining.

After MSU's missed opportunity on the next possession, Lane Tietz hit a pair of free throws to extend DSU's lead to 67-65 with 1:05 remaining. 

The Comets committed a turnover on the ensuing possession as Tietz stole the ball and was fouled by the Comets.  He hit both free throws to balloon Dakota State's lead to 69-65 with 45 seconds to go in the game.

Mayville State could get no close than two points as London Williams made a layup with less than ten seconds to go.  DSU's Brayden Pankonen hit a free throw for a 70-67 lead.

MSU's Griffin missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer as the time expired, securing the victory for DSU.

The Comets outscored the Trojans 45-42 in the final twenty minutes.  DSU shot 12-of-25 from the field (48 percent), 5-of-13 3-pointers, and 13-of-18 free throws in the second half.  MSU was held to 14-of-32 field goals (43.75 percent), 2-of-6 3-pointers, and 15-of-19 free throws.

Pankonen led Dakota State with 19 points on his 6-of-11 3-pointers.  He added five rebounds and three assists.  Isaac Sumption, Beckwith, and Lukas Morgan each added nine points.  Morgan had six rebounds.  Beckwith added four rebounds.  Colby Dillenbeck had eight points. 

Mitchell collected eight rebounds and scored six points for the Trojans.  Tietz had six points and four assists.  Aiden Jensen had six rebounds and four points. 

Four players scored in double digits for Mayville State, led by Williams with 11 points.  He had seven rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.  Stevan Garza, JJ White, and Tim Oldham each added 10 points.  Trey Swayzer had eight points.

Garza registered nine rebounds and two blocks for the Comets. 

Dakota State shot 35.9 percent overall from the field (23-of-64 field goals), 9-of-34 3-pointers, and 15-of-22 free throws.  Mayville State was 34.4 percent from the field (22-of-64 field goals), 3-of-16 3-pointers, and 20-of-24 free throws. 

The Trojans had a slim rebounding edge over the Comets (46-45).

The game was tied 15 times and recorded 11 lead changes.