January 16, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – A last-second three-pointer lifted No. 15 Montana Tech to a 68–66 victory over Dakota State in a tightly contested Frontier Conference men's basketball showdown Friday night at the DSU Fieldhouse. A total of 14 lead changes and four ties were registered in the game, with the biggest leads for the Trojans at seven points and the Orediggers at four points.
Dakota State fell to 13-4 overall record and 8-4 record in the league. Montana Tech, who won the previous four Frontier Conference titles, extended their winning streak to seven games and lifted their overall record to 15-3 and 9-3 in the conference.
It was the seventh annual Ag Ball contest for Dakota State, a tradition where the Athletics Department extend their appreciation to the local agriculture and farmers with pork lion meal prior to the game.
How it happened
Dakota State and Montana Tech battled back and forth with no lead greater than three points before the Trojans produced the biggest lead of the game.
Leading 22-21,
Lukas Morgan scored six straight points in DSU's 6-0 scoring run. He hit a pair of free-throws as the Trojans' lead grew to 28-21 with 3:36 remaining before halftime.
Dakota State carried a 35–31 advantage into halftime after shooting an efficient 53.8 percent from the field (15-of-30 field goals) in the opening half. The Orediggers shot 68.4 percent (13-of-19 field goals) but committed 10 turnovers in the first half. DSU outscored MT 15-0 in points off turnovers in the first twenty minutes of the game.
Montana Tech answered early in the second half, trimming the deficit and eventually pulling even at 41–41 with just over 15 minutes remaining after Karson Peffer's layup.
The teams traded leads throughout the final 10 minutes, with neither side able to create separation in a game that featured 14 lead changes and four ties.
Ryan Beckwith and
Lukas Morgan helped Dakota State regain a brief edge late, as Beckwith knocked down a pull-up three with 44 seconds remaining to put DSU ahead 66–64.
Montana Tech missed a basket on the ensuing possession as the Trojans regained possession with 21 seconds. The Orediggers committed a foul and sent DSU to the free-throw line, missing a pair of free-throws.
MT responded on the next possession when Brayden Koch drilled a go-ahead three-pointer with 4.6 seconds left.
Dakota State had a final opportunity, but a turnover in the closing seconds sealed the outcome as Montana Tech escaped with the two-point win.
Inside the box score
Dakota State Leaders
Dakota State finished the night shooting 47.2 percent (25-of-53 field goals) from the field and 6-of-17 from three-point range.
Montana Tech Leaders
- Karson Peffer: 19 points, 4 rebounds
- Brayden Koch: 16 points
- Camdyn LaRance: 11 points
- Hayden Diekhans: 9 points, 4 assists, 3 steals
Montana Tech shot 58.1 percent from the field (25-of-43 field goals) and held a 34–30 advantage in points in the paint, along with a 10–4 edge in fast-break scoring.
Team Statistics
|
Montana Tech |
Dakota State |
| FG |
25-43 (58.1%) |
25-53 (47.2%) |
| 3PT |
4-13 (30.8%) |
6-17 (35.3%) |
| FT |
14-20 (70.0%) |
10-14 (71.4%) |
| Rebounds |
26 |
24 |
| Assists |
10 |
7 |
| Turnovers |
14 |
20 |
Up Next
Dakota State looks to return in the winning column Saturday evening for another Frontier Conference action versus Montana Western at 7 p.m.
