February 22, 2025
DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State (N.D.) led 39-27 by halftime in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball action with Dakota State (S.D.) Saturday evening at Scott Gymnasium. The Blue Hawks never trailed for the rest of the game, earning a 76-60 victory over the Trojans in the regular season finale.
Dakota State is 11-16 overall record and finished in a tie for fifth place in the North Star Athletic Association standings with Bellevue (Neb.) with 4-11 record each. Dickinson State secured the top seed for the upcoming postseason conference tournament, lifting their overall record to 17-10 and 12-3 record in the NSAA contests.
The Trojans will be the No. 6 seed for the NSAA postseason tournament, playing in the quarterfinals round at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening. DSU takes on No. 3 seed Mayville State (N.D.) with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Dickinson State (N.D.) 76, Dakota State (S.D.) 60 – FINAL
Dakota State held Dickinson State scoreless for more than the first two-and-half minutes of the game.
Tyler Beckwith scored four straight points to open a 4-0 lead for the Trojans with 17:26 on the clock in the first half.
The Blue Hawks then went on an 11-0 scoring tear, capped by a 3-pointer from Kose Egbule for an 11-4 lead with 13:46 to go in the first half.
At 11-6, DiSU held DaSU scoreless for more than two minutes and opened an 18-6 lead with 11:21 to go in the first half after their 7-0 scoring run.
Dickinson State led as many as 19 points in the remainder of the first half (38-19 with 2:21 left after Adian Fishell's 3-pointer).
The Trojans went on a 7-0 scoring run, capped by five straight points from
Rysley Borman after a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. Dakota State trailed 38-26 with 1:05 left in the first half.
DiSU led 39-26 by halftime. The Blue Hawks were 46.9 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (15-of-32 field goals) compared to the Trojans 33.3 percent (9-of-27 field goals).
Dickinson State led in double digits for the majority of the second half before Dakota State trimmed the deficit into single digits. Trailing 61-45, The Trojans went on an 11-4 scoring run ignited by five straight points from
Lukas Morgan and capped by a 3-pointer from Borman. DSU trailed 65-56 with 4:20 remaining in the game.
At 67-58, the Blue Hawks pulled away with a 9-0 scoring run to balloon their lead to 76-58 with less than a minute to go to secure the victory.
Dickinson State outscored Dakota State 37-34 in the final twenty minutes. DSU was 42.4 percent from the field (14-of-33 field goals) compared to DiSU 46.2 percent (12-of-26 field goals). The Blue Hawks hit 7-of-13 3-pointers in the second half.
Morgan led the Trojans with 14 points off the bench. He was 6-of-11 from the field and collected four rebounds. Beckwith added 11 points and six rebounds.
Aiden Jensen had nine points and five rebounds.
Borman scored eight points.
Colby Dillenbeck had six points.
Taine Mitchell recorded nine rebounds and four points.
Nolan Segner scored four points.
Lane Tietz dished out five assists.
Egbule scored 17 points on his 4-of-7 field goals and 7-of-10 free throws for the Blue Hawks. He grabbed six rebounds. John Evans added 13 points and five rebounds. He contributed four assists. Aidan Fishell scored 15 points off the bench. Cordell Stinson collected a game-high 10 rebounds. Jake Daniel had nine points.
Dickinson State shot 27-of-58 field goals in the game (46.6 percent), including 12-of-25 3-pointers. The Blue Hawks also converted 10-of-14 free throws. Dakota State was 23-of-60 field goals (38.3 percent), 5-of-26 3-pointers, and hit 9-of-18 free throws.
The Trojans outrebounded the Blue Hawks 41-34 in the game, including 11-2 on the offensive boards. DSU outscored DiSU 15-1 in second chance points.
