February 26, 2025

MAYVILLE, N.D. – Sixth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) shot a blazing 59.3 percent in the final twenty minutes of the game to pull an upset victory over third-seeded Mayville State (N.D.) 86-75 to kick off the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Postseason quarterfinal contest at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse Wednesday evening.  The Trojans earned their third straight postseason road victory over the Comets since 2021 (defeated at MSU 66-65 in NSAA semifinals on Feb. 25, 2021, and 74-68 on Feb. 23, 2022, in NSAA quarterfinals).

Dakota State snapped their losing skid, improving to 12-16 overall record.  Mayville State ended their season at 18-11 overall record.  The Trojans earned their season series split with the Comets in four meetings this season (2-2 record), with both teams winning on the road twice.

It was the second straight year that DSU earned the quarterfinal victory in the North Star conference postseason tournament, their fourth quarterfinal win in the past five conference tournaments.

DSU moves on to the semifinals round of the North Star Athletic Association postseason tournament on Saturday afternoon, visiting second-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) for a spot to Tuesday's conference championship game.  The game tips off at 1 p.m. at Newman Arena in Jamestown, N.D.

The other NSAA semifinal match-up features top-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.) hosting fourth-seeded Valley City State (N.D.) on the same day at 2 p.m. (Central Time)/1 p.m. (Mountain Time).

[6] Dakota State (S.D.) 86, [3] Mayville State (N.D.) 75 – FINAL

Dakota State grabbed the game's first lead as Lane Tietz drained a 3-pointer (assisted by Aiden Jensen), earning a 3-0 lead with nineteen minutes and twenty minutes on the clock.

Justin Fisher and JJ White put together a combined 13 points as part of MSU's 16-3 outburst.  White hit a 3-pointer as the Comets opened with the first double digit lead of the game at 16-6 with 15:25 on the clock in the first half.

The Trojans answered with four straight baskets, sparked by Lukas Morgan's basket followed by Colby Dillenbeck and back-to-back baskets from Tietz.  DSU trailed 16-14 with less than 13 minutes to go before halftime.

Brayden Pankonen hit a basket inside the paint as Dakota State tied the game at 20-20 with 10:17 on the clock in the first.

Mayville State maintained their lead between two- and six-points for a span of six-plus minutes.  Trailing 32-28, Tietz hit a 3-pointer followed by a layup from Tyler Beckwith as DSU regained their lead to 33-32 and forced the Comets to burn a timeout with 2:30 remaining in first.

After trading leads for the remainder of the first half, Isaac Sumption hit a free throw as Dakota State knotted the game at 36-36 by halftime.

DSU shot a sizzling 51.7 percent from the field in the first half (15-of-29 field goals) compared to MSU 46.3 percent (13-of-28 field goals).

The Comets kicked off the second half with a pair of free throws by London Williams to earn a 38-36 lead with 19:34 on the clock.

Dakota State roared with an 11-0 scoring run from four different scorers, ignited by Taine Mitchell's basket followed by Tietz's basket and 3-pointer.  Tyler Beckwith made a layup and capped the scoring run with Jensen's basket as the Trojans ballooned their lead to 47-38 with 17:02 left.

Leading 57-49, Calvin Payne drained a 3-pointer to start Trojans' 8-0 scoring run.  A steal by Beckwith followed by a 3-pointer by Pankonen gave Dakota State the biggest lead of the game at 65-49 with less than 10 minutes to go in the game.

DSU maintained their double-digit lead for the rest of the game, securing the victory.  MSU could get no closer than nine points at four different occasions, with last occurrence at 84-75 with less than thirty seconds left.

Dakota State hit 8-of-8 from the free-throw line in the final 1:19 of the game, with four free throws from Tietz followed by four free throws by Pankonen to secure the victory.

The Trojans outscored the Comets 50-39 in the final twenty minutes of the game.  DSU was 16-of-27 from the field and hit 12-of-13 free throws in the second half.  MSU was 45.2 percent from the field (14-of-31 field goals) and 8-of-9 from the free throws line.

Tietz led Dakota State with 22 points on his 7-of-15 field goals, 4-of-8 from the 3-point line, and converted 4-of-5 free throws.  Jensen added 18 points after shooting 8-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 3-pointers.  He grabbed a season-high eight rebounds and registered a block. 

Pankonen scored 14 points and dished out three assists for the Trojans.  He surpassed Carson Rentz (2018-21) and Adam Hofer (2013-16 – each with 131 3-point field goals made) for eighth most 3-point field goals made, accumulating 132 3-pointers since last season. 

Dillenbeck scored eight points and collected four rebounds off the bench for DSU.  Morgan added six points and three rebounds.  Beckwith, Mitchell, and Sumption each added five points.  Beckwith, Mitchell, and Sumption each registered two assists.  Mitchell had seven rebounds.  Beckwith and Mitchell each had two steals.

Williams led the Comets with 22 points on his 7-of-13 field goals and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.  He had nine rebounds and two assists.  White scored 15 points.  Artis Chapman tallied 11 points off the bench.  Fisher had nine points and contributed five assists. 

Dakota State shot 55.4 percent overall from the field (31-of-56 field goals), 9-of-22 3-pointers, and 15-of-19 free throws.  Mayville State was 45.8 percent from the field (27-of-59 field goals), 10-of-24 3-pointers, and 11-of-14 free throws.

The Trojans outrebounded the Comets 33-26. 

DSU outscored MSU 42-28 inside the paint and 26-12 in points off turnovers.