February 7, 2025

BELLEVUE, Neb. – Knotted at 62-62, Dakota State (S.D.) set up the game-winning shot as Taine Mitchell made a layup to earn a 64-62 North Star Athletic Association men's basketball thriller Friday evening at Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.  It was the first road victory for the Trojans in Bellevue since Dec. 11, 1999 (the season – 1999-2000 when they first met their all-time series where DSU earned the season series sweep over BU).

Dakota State earned their third straight North Star conference victory and fourth win in the last five NSAA contests, improving their overall record to 11-12.  Bellevue suffered their fourth straight defeat, falling to 12-12 overall record.  Both teams are tied for fourth in the NSAA men's basketball standings with 4-7 conference record each. 

Bellevue earned the season series victory over Dakota State with 2-1 record.  The Trojans snapped their five-game losing skid in the series meeting with the Bruins, with the last win coming on Feb. 16, 2023.

Dakota State returns home next weekend to conclude their home regular season schedule.  The Trojans host Mayville State (N.D.) Friday evening in the annual Ag Ball contest at DSU Fieldhouse.  The game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.

Dakota State (S.D.) 64, Bellevue (Neb.) 62 – FINAL

Dakota State and Bellevue battled back and forth through the first seven-plus minutes.  Leading 14-13, the Bruins scored five straight points by Christian Carter to open a 19-13 lead with 11:04 on the clock in the first half.

Trailing 21-16, the Trojans went on a 9-2 scoring run to overtake the lead.  After a pair of free throws by Mitchell, DSU hit a pair of 3-pointers from Rysley Borman (assisted by Isaac Sumption) and Nolan Segan (assisted by Tyler Beckwith). 

A steal by Lukas Morgan followed by a fast-break layup by Sumption (assisted by Morgan) gave Dakota State a 25-23 lead with less than six minutes to go in the first half.

Both teams tied or traded leads for the remaining first half.  Emarr Vinson closed the first half with a layup to give the Bruins a 37-35 halftime lead.

Dakota State was 46.4 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes of the game (13-of-28 field goals), including 5-of-8 from the 3-point line.  Bellevue was 55.2 percent from the field (16-of-29 field goals) and 3-of-10 3-pointers in the first half.

The Bruins kicked off the second half with an 8-1 scoring run to earn their biggest lead of the game at 45-36 after a layup by RJ Smith with 16 minutes left.

Down 47-40, the Trojans scored seven straight points capped by a layup by Colby Dillenbeck (assisted by Morgan) to tie the game at 47-47 with less than ten minutes to go.

Both teams traded leads or tied the game for the next five-plus minutes before the Trojans open a five-point lead.  Tied at 52-52, DSU scored five straight points capped by a 3-pointer from Brayden Pankonen (assisted by Lane Tietz) for a 57-5 lead with 4:10 remaining.

With DSU leading 60-55, the Bruins scored five straight points highlighted by a dunk by Nigel Wilson to tie the game at 60-60 with 1:04 left.

The Trojans answered on the next possession with a basket by Dillenbeck for a 62-60 lead with less than 40 seconds remaining.

Vinson hit a jump shot on the ensuing possession and was fouled by the Trojans as BU tied the game at 62-62 with less than 25 seconds to go.  Vinson failed a successful 3-point play as Pankonen grabbed the defensive rebound and raced to the half court to call a timeout with 15.6 seconds remaining.

Mitchell hit a game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining as the Trojans secured the victory.

DSU outscored BU 29-25 in the final twenty minutes.  Dakota State was 10-of-24 from the field (41.7 percent) in the second half compared to Bellevue 9-of-24 field goals (37.5 percent).

A total of 14 ties and 13 lead changes were recorded in the game.

Dakota State used a balanced scoring attack with 11 different players scoring in the game.  Pankonen led the Trojans with 12 points, including 3-of-4 from the 3-point line.  Mitchell added nine points and grabbed four rebounds.  Borman tallied nine points off the bench on his 3-of-4 3-pointers. 

Dillenbeck scored eight points on his 4-of-5 field goals for DSU.  Tietz and Aiden Jensen each added five points.  Jensen had four rebounds.  Sumption and Beckwith each had four points.  Calvin Payne and Segner each scored three points.  Morgan registered five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and a block.

Smith led the Bruins with 17 points on his 8-of-12 field goals.  Vinson added 16 points on his 7-of-9 field goals off the bench.  Caleb Chiang and Carter each added nine points.  Wilson had six points and six rebounds.  Willie Williams dished out four assists.

Dakota State shot 44.2 percent overall from the field (23-of-52 field goals) and 8-of-18 from the 3-point line (44.4 percent).  Bellevue was 47.2 percent from the field (25-of-53 field goals) and 4-of-15 3-pointers. 

DSU hit 10-of-19 free throws compared to BU 8-of-13 free throws.

Bellevue outrebounded Dakota State 35-31. 

The Trojans outscored the Bruins 11-4 in points off turnovers.