January 10, 2026
DICKINSON, N.D. –
Nathan Ojukwu and
Lukas Morgan had a career night Saturday evening at Scott Gymnasium, scoring a combined 63 points to help Dakota State (S.D.) hold off Dickinson State (N.D.) 78-74. The Trojans also concluded their season-high six-game Frontier Conference road trip with a 4-2 record.
Dakota State lifted their overall record to 13-3 and 8-3 record in the Frontier Conference. It is the most conference wins in a single season since the 2017-18 season (8 wins in the North Star Athletic Association). Dickinson State fell to 5-12 overall record and 3-8 record in the league.
How it happened
Dakota State trailed 23–22 late in the first half but closed the period on a late scoring run to take a 32–29 halftime lead.
Leading 34-33, the Trojans went on to score eight straight points sparked by a 3-pointer from Ojukwu and Morgan. Ojukwu hit a layup to give DSU a 42-33 with 17:55 on the clock. Nate Visentin hit a basket as the Blue Hawks trimmed their deficit to 42-35 and forced Dickinson State to burn a timeout with 17:35 remaining.
Dakota State maintained their lead between two- and eight-points throughout the second half before making a scoring run for the first double digit lead of the game. Holding a slim 53-51 lead, DSU went on a 11-3 scoring run capped by a pair of free throws by Ojukwu for 64-54 lead with 5:01 left.
Dakota State survived a furious late rally by Dickinson State in the final 20 seconds of the game. After Ojukwu hit a pair of free throws to put the Trojans up 76-69, the Trojans committed a foul on Dickinson State's 3-point attempt. With less than 10 seconds left.
Griffyn Doughty made the first two free throws as the Blue Hawks trailed 76-71. He missed the third free throw attempt and was recovered by DiSU. Dakota State committed another foul on Blue Hawks' 3-point attempt, sending Jake Daniel to the fee-throw line with less than eight seconds left.
Daniel made all three free throw attempts as the Blue Hawks cut the Trojans' lead to 76-74. He then committed a foul on Dakota State and sent
Ryan Beckwith to the free-throw line for double bonus free-throws.
Ryan Beckwith hit both free throws as the Trojans secured the victory 78-74.
Dakota State shot 12-of-23 from the field (52.2 percent) and 18-of-23 free-throws in the final twenty minutes of the game. Dickinson State was 13-of-30 field goals (43.3 percent) and 16-of-21 free-throws.
By the numbers
Ojukwu was 11-of-21 from the floor, 6-of-11 from three-point range and 9-of-10 at the free-throw line, while also pulling down 11 rebounds for a double-double. Morgan provided a huge spark off the bench, scoring 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting with three triples, while knocking down 7-of-9 free throws.
In addition to Ojukwu and Morgan,
Brayden Pankonen chipped in seven points, while
Tyler Beckwith added four points. Dakota State also received solid rebounding from
Taine Mitchell, who grabbed seven boards, and the Trojans forced
14 Dickinson State turnovers, scoring
11 points off those miscues.
Dickinson State stayed within striking distance all night and made a late push behind Doughty (14 points) and Detavius Frierson (11 points), trimming the margin to two points in the final seconds before Dakota State iced the game at the line.
Dakota State finished the night shooting 45.8 percent overall (25-of-48 field goals) and 9-of-19 from the 3-point line. The Trojans also converted 25-of-30 free throws (83.3 percent). Dickinson State was 25-of-57 field goals (43.9 percent), 4-of-21 3-pointers, and 20-of-26 free-throws.
Team Comparison
|
Dakota State |
Dickinson State |
| FG |
22-48 (45.8%) |
25-57 (43.9%) |
| 3PT |
9-19 (47.4%) |
4-21 (19.0%) |
| FT |
25-30 (83.3%) |
20-26 (76.9%) |
| Rebounds |
31 |
34 |
| Assists |
8 |
8 |
| Turnovers |
14 |
14 |
| Bench Points |
28 |
22 |
Up next
Dakota State returns home next weekend at DSU Fieldhouse for the first time since Dec. 6, 2025. The Trojans open their three-game home stand in Frontier Conference play, hosting No. 19 ranked and four-time defending Frontier Conference champion Montana Tech in the seventh annual Ag Ball contest.
The Ag Ball meal is set to start at 4 p.m., followed by the women's game at 5 p.m. and the men's game at 7 p.m.
