February 21, 2025

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Both Dakota State (S.D.) and Jamestown (N.D.) shot above 50 percent from the field in the first half of the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action Friday evening at Harold Newman Arena.  The Jimmies pulled away past the Trojans 86-77 in what could be their final series meeting before UJ makes their transition next season.

Dakota State fell to 11-15 overall record and 4-10 NSAA conference record.  Jamestown improved to 15-12 overall record and 10-4 record in the league.

The Trojans look to snap their losing skid on Saturday evening as they travel to the conference's leader Dickinson State (N.D.).  The game is set to tip off at 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time) at Scott Gymnasium in Dickinson, N.D.

Jamestown (N.D.) 86, Dakota State (S.D.) 77 – FINAL

Dakota State kicked off the game by scoring five straight points from Brayden Pankonen, igniting with a 3-pointer (assisted by Taine Mitchell) followed by a basket inside the paint for a 5-0 lead with eighteen minutes and thirty seconds on the clock.

The Jimmies answered with a 6-0 scoring run, capped by a 3-pointer from Will Cordes for a 6-5 lead with 16:41 to go in the first half.

After trading leads or tying the game in the span of the next five minutes, Jamestown opened a 24-18 lead after Cole Glasgow's basket with 9:03 to go before halftime. 

The Trojans trimmed their deficit to two points on several occasions, including 34-32 after Mitchell's basket with four minutes to go in the first half.

Owen Hektner hit a 3-pointer as the Jimmies led 46-40 by halftime.

Jamestown shot 63.3 percent from the field (19-of-30 field goals) in the first twenty minutes, including 5-of-10 from the 3-point line. Dakota State was 55.2 percent from the field (16-of-29 field goals) and 5-of-13 3-pointers.

The Jimmies maintained control in the second half, leading between four- and eight-points.  UJ posted their first double-digit lead of the game at 61-51 after Glasgow's basket, forcing DSU to call a time out with 13:16 remaining.

Trailing 63-53, the Trojans went on a 5-0 scoring run highlighted by a 3-pointer from Aiden Jensen.  DSU trailed 63-58 with 11:16 left in the game.

Dakota State could get no closer than four points at two different occasions, a 3-pointer from Nolan Segner (assisted by Calvin Payne) (DSU trailed 72-68 with less than six minutes left) and Mitchell's basket when DSU trailed 76-72 with 4:23 to go.

UJ outscored DSU 40-37 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  The Jimmies shot 48.2 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-27 field goals) compared to the Trojans 46.7 percent (14-of-30 field goals).

Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with five players scoring in double digits.  Lane Tietz scored 11 points.  Pankonen, Tyler Beckwith, Colby Dillenbeck, and Lukas Morgan each added 10 points.  Mitchell registered six points, seven rebounds, and three assists.  Segner scored eight points off the bench.  Jensen had five points. 

Dillenbeck and Segner each had four rebounds for the Trojans.  Beckwith stole the ball twice. 

Silas Bennion led the Jimmies with 18 points and six assists.  Hektner and Anthony Walters each added 17 points.  Cordes and Jimmy Llinas each had nine points.  Llinas grabbed eight rebounds.  Glasgow and Carson Woodford each had eight points. 

Jamestown shot 56.1 percent overall from the field (32-of-57 field goals) compared to Dakota State 50.8 percent (30-of-59 field goals).  The Jimmies were 10-of-21 from the 3-point line, while the Trojans were 9-of-29 3-pointers (31 percent).

UJ converted 12-of-21 from the free throw line (57.1 percent) to DSU 8-of-11 free throws (72.7 percent).

Both teams collected 29 rebounds in the game.

Dakota State outscored Jamestown 35-25 in bench points and 42-36 inside the paint.