March 1, 2025

JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Sixth-seeded Dakota State (S.D.) and second-seeded Jamestown (N.D.) went through a closely tight battle Saturday afternoon in the North Star Athletic Association men's basketball postseason tournament's semifinals at Newman Arena.  The Jimmies pulled away late in the game, ending the Trojans' season by the score of 76-69.

Dakota State finished the season with an overall record of 12-17, making their fourth appearance in the conference's postseason tournament semifinals in the past five seasons.  Jamestown improved to 17-12 overall record and advanced to the NSAA championship game Tuesday evening at top-seeded Dickinson State (N.D.), who defeated fourth-seeded Valley City State (N.D.) 84-73 in the other semifinal game, at 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Saturday's contest could be the final series meeting between DSU and UJ, where they make new athletics transition next season.

Jamestown (N.D.) 76, Dakota State (S.D.) 69 – FINAL

Jamestown took the first lead of the game at 3-0 after Cole Glasgow's 3-pointer (assisted by Silas Bennion) with nineteen minutes, thirty-one seconds on the clock.  The Trojans scored on the ensuing possession with a basket inside the paint by Aiden Jensen (assisted by Lane Tietz) with less than 19 minutes to go (DSU trailed 3-2).

Brayden Pankonen drained a 3-pointer for Dakota State's first lead of the game at 7-5 with 17:47 on the clock in the first half.

Tied at 9-9, Taine Mitchell ignited DSU's 5-0 scoring run with a basket followed by Tietz's 3-pointer for a 14-9 lead with 14:27 to go in the first.

UJ then answered with an 8-0 run to regain their lead at 15-14, capped by Anthony Walters' basket with 12:41 on the clock in the first half.

After battling back and forth for the majority of the first half with the lead no greater than six points at 33-27 after Walters' 3-pointer with less than two minutes to go.

DSU then scored five straight points to trim their deficit to one point after a 3-pointer from Pankonen and a basket from Tyler Beckwith, trailing 33-32 with less than a minute to go in the first half.

Jensen closed the first half with basket inside the paint as Dakota State trailed 36-34.

Dakota State shot a blazing 53.8 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (15-of-28 field goals).  Jamestown shot 45.5 percent in the first half (15-of-33 field goals).

The Trojans kicked off the second half by scoring four straight points to regain their lead to 38-36 after a pair of baskets from Jensen and Beckwith with 19:36 on the clock.

DSU and UJ battled back and forth through the first 10-plus minutes before the Jimmies pulled away late.  Beckwith hit basket inside the paint to give DSU a 52-50 lead with 11:30 remaining.

Jamestown scored six straight points, capped by a pair of free throws from Owen Hektner for 56-52 lead with less than eight minutes to go in the game.

Dakota State could not get any closer than two points at 56-54 after Mitchell's basket with 7:30 left.  Jamestown's lead grew to seven points at 64-57 with 5:35 remaining after a 3-pointer from Walters.

The Jimmies maintained their lead between four- and nine-points for the rest of the game, securing the victory.

Jamestown outscored Dakota State 40-35 in the final twenty minutes.  The Jimmies were 10-of-23 from the field (43.5 percent) and hit 17-of-21 free throws in the second half.  The Trojans were 15-of-38 field goals (39.5 percent) and 4-of-9 at the free throw line.

Four Dakota State hit double digits, led by Tietz and Beckwith with 13 points each.  Beckwith grabbed nine rebounds.  Jensen and Mitchell each added 12 points.  Jensen registered four rebounds and two blocks.  Mitchell added six rebounds.

Pankonen tallied six points and six rebounds for DSU.  Colby Dillenbeck scored seven points.  Lukas Morgan recorded six points and seven rebounds (four offensive rebounds).  Isaac Sumption stole the ball twice.

Bennion led Jamestown with 24 points on his 7-of-18 field goals and 9-of-11 free throws.  Jimmy Llinas posted a double-double of 10 points and collected 10 rebounds.  Walters scored 16 points off the bench on his 7-of-15 field goals.  Hektner had nine points and six rebounds.  Will Cordes and Glasgow each had six points.  Glasgow dished out seven assists and stole the ball three times.

DSU was 45.5 percent from the field (30-of-66 field goals) compared to UJ 44.6 percent (25-of-56 field goals).  The Jimmies hit 18-of-23 from the free throw line compared to the Trojans 5-of-12 free throws.

Dakota State outrebounded Jamestown 40-34 in the game.

The Trojans outscored the Jimmies 50-26 inside the paint.