January 22, 2026

THIS WEEK'S PREVIEW
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University Trojan men's basketball team (14-4 overall record, 9-4 Frontier Conference) wraps up their Frontier Conference's three-game home stand Friday evening.  The Trojans host their traveling partner and Frontier Conference's tri-leader Bellevue (Neb.) (16-3 overall record, 11-2 Frontier Conference) at DSU Fieldhouse (1302 N. Washington Ave.).

Friday's contest is also the Coaches vs. Cancer contest, helping to raise cancer awareness.  The men's game tips off at 7 p.m.

QUICK HITS
*Dakota State concludes their Frontier Conference's three-game home stand Friday evening, hosting their traveling partner Bellevue (Neb.) at DSU Fieldhouse.  The Bruins had hosted the Trojans in the previous three meetings, with the last DSU's home meeting on Jan. 4, 2025.

*DSU has been seeking their first home victory over BU since Feb. 16, 2023, where the Trojans came on top by the score of 69-59. 

*Bellevue pulled away past Dakota State 78-72 with a 43-35 second half scoring run in the first Frontier Conference meeting in Bellevue, Neb., on Nov. 15.  The Trojans led 37-35 by halftime.

*Dakota State produced their most conference wins after defeating (RV) Montana Western 75-73 on Jan. 17.  The last time DSU had more than nine league wins was during the 2015-16 season (10 wins in the former North Star Athletic Association).

*There are two games separating in the Frontier Conference's first place through sixth-place teams (BU 11-2 league record, DSU 9-4 record).
 

Scoring Offense	84.2	75.5
Scoring Defense	69.2	62.3
Scoring Margin	15.0	13.2
Field Goal %	.490	.497
Field Goal Def. %	.460	.417
Free Throw %	.716	.704
Rebounds Per Game	36.4	35.6
Rebounds Margin	6.5	7.6
3-point FGs Made Per Game	9.7	7.4
3-point FG %	.381	.386
Assists Per Game	14.2	14.0
Blocks Per Game	3.0	2.1

SCOUTING THE BRUINS
Lucas Gabriel is the head coach for the Bellevue men's basketball team. This is his 7th season leading the Bruins. In his six full seasons, Gabriel has led the program to three regular season titles and three tournament titles. He is a two-time conference coach of the year in the former NSAA. Gabriel is a graduate of the University of Northern Arizona.

Bellevue began their season by rattling off five straight wins coming into conference play, taking down Haskell (Okla.), Hastings (Neb.), Union Adventist (Neb.), Ozark Christian (Mo.), and Mission (Mo.). BU carried that momentum into conference play, defeating Dakota State (S.D.) in the first matchup in the new and expanded conference.

After taking down MSU-Northern and Providence (Mont.), the Bruins took a setback in an exhibition contest against NCAA Division II Augustana (S.D.). Returning to conference play, Bellevue continued their winning ways by defeating Valley City State (N.D.), Mayville State (N.D.), Providence (Mont.), and MSU-Northern.

Bellevue suffered their first defeat of the season against Waldorf (Iowa). Coming out of the holiday break, BU split their next two conference weekends, dropping contests to (RV) Rocky Mountain (Mont.) and Bismarck State (N.D.), and picking up wins against (15) Carroll (Mont.) and Dickinson State (N.D.). 

Bellevue defeated (RV) Montana Western and (15) Montana Tech in their previous two games last weekend.

BU is a perfect 12-0 at home this year, and 4-3 away from the BU Fieldhouse. Bellevue is second in the Frontier Conference in scoring offense at 84.2 points per game. The Bruins also rank second in rebounding (36.4) and rebounding margin (6.5).

This is the second Frontier Conference meeting for DSU and BU this season. Bellevue defeated Dakota State 78-72 in the first meeting this season at BU Fieldhouse. Bellevue leads the all-time series 24-5.

LAST TIME OUT
Dakota State returned home for the first time last weekend at DSU Fieldhouse after their season long Frontier Conference's six-game road trip.  The Trojans hosted a pair of Montana teams, where the games were decided by the final possession.

A total of 14 lead changes and four ties were recorded in a closely tight contest between the Trojans and No. 15 ranked Montana Tech.  The biggest lead of the game by both teams were by seven points for DSU and four points by MT.  A last-second three-pointer lifted the Orediggers to a 68-66 victory over the Trojans.    

Dakota State grabbed a 35-31 halftime edge over Montana Tech after shooting 53.8 percent from the field in the first half.  The Orediggers, however, shot 68.4 percent (13-of-19 field goals).  DSU outscored MT 15-0 in points off turnovers in the first twenty minutes of the game.

The teams traded leads throughout the final ten minutes, with neither side able to create separation in the game.  Montana Tech hit a game-winning 3-pointer with less than five seconds remaining and held on to the victory.  

Lukas Morgan led Dakota State with 18 points.  Nathan Ojukwu added 15 points.  Ryan Beckwith scored 11 points.  Taine Mitchell recorded nine points, sevenre bounds, three assists, and two steals.  Brayden Pankonen had seven points and two steals.

Dakota State stormed back in the second half versus (RV) Montana Western, despite trailing 49-35 at halftime.  The Trojans outscored the Bulldogs 40-24 in the final 20 minutes of the game to secure a thrilling 75-73 victory.

The comeback was fueled by Morgan, who took over down the stretch with timely finishes in the paint and a clutch three-pointer with 1:04 remaining that put DSU in front 73-71.  Moments later, Ojukwu sealed the win with a late layup to give DSU a 75-71 lead in the final seconds.  Dakota State finished the night shooting 58 percent from the field (29-of-50 field goals).

Morgan poured in a career-high 29 points on his 12-of-22 field goals and grabbed five rebounds for DSU.  Ojukwu added 20 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.  He contributed four assists.  R. Beckwith had nine points and five rebounds, while Tyler Beckwith added eight points and two blocks.    

DAKOTA STATE'S HOME COOKING
Dakota State is 8-1 record at home this season, despite a two-point setback to No. 15 ranked Montana Tech on Jan. 16.  The Trojans are averaging 80.1 points per game this season, thanks to their 51.2 percent field goal shooting this season (268-of-523 field goals).  DSU is also 78-of-185 from the 3-point line (42.2 percent).    

DSU is holding their opponents to 60.7 points per game at DSU Fieldhouse this season, limiting their opponents to 40.4 percent field goal shooting (201-of-497 field goals) and 58-of-202 from the 3-point line (28.7 percent).

Dakota State is seeking to match their most home wins since the 2023-24 season.  The Trojans went 9-3 record at home that season.  The last time DSU reached double digit victories was during the 2017-18 season where they racked up 11 home wins.

DAKOTA STATE IN THE FRONTIER CONFERENCE RANKS
According to the NAIA-PrestoStats as of Thursday, Dakota State leads the Frontier Conference in overall defense scoring.  The Trojans limited their opponents to 62.3 points per game overall.  DSU is also second in the league with 64.8 points allowed during the conference season.

Nathan Ojukwu leads the Frontier Conference in rebounds, averaging 8.3 rebounds per game before Friday's game.  He is also fourth in the league in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game.       

Desman Botts ranks fourth in the Frontier Conference in field goal percentage of 65.2 percent.  Brayden Pankonen ranks third in the league for most steals with 36 steals.  Ryan Beckwith records 46.4 percent from the 3-point line, which is fourth best 3-point field goal percentage in the Frontier Conference.

2025-26 DSU Trojan Men's Basketball Team Leaders

• Points/Points Per Game: Nathan Ojukwu – 345 points (19.2 points per game)
• Field Goal Percentage: Desman Botts – 65.2 percent (45-of-69 field goals)
• 3-point Field Goal Percentage: Ryan Beckwith – 46.4 percent (26-of-56 3-point field goals)
• Free-Throw Percentage: Brayden Pankonen – 82.1 percent (32-of-39 free-throws)
• Rebounds: Nathan Ojukwu – 149 rebounds (8.3 rebounds per game)
• Assists/Assists Per Game: Nathan Ojukwu – 54 assists/3.0 assists per game
• Steals/Steals Per Game: Brayden Pankonen – 36 steals/2.0 steals per game
• Blocked Shots: Aiden Jensen – 13 blocked shots (0.8 blocks per game)