January 23, 2026
MADISON, S.D. – Seventh-ranked Dakota State (S.D.) used balanced scoring with twelve different players scored, cruising to an 89–41 win over Bellevue (Neb.) Friday evening at the DSU Fieldhouse. It was the fifth straight Frontier Conference victory for the Trojans, who remained in a three-way tie for first place in the league with No. 12 ranked Montana Tech and Carroll (Mont.).
Dakota State lifted their overall record to 17-3 and 12-2 record in the league. Bellevue fell to 8-11 overall record and 4-10 record in the conference. The Trojans completed the season series sweep of the Bruins, earning their eighth straight victory in the series meeting.
How it happened
The Trojans forced 26 Bellevue turnovers, scored 25 points off those miscues, and held the Bruins to 24.6 percent shooting from the floor (15-of-61 field goals) while building a lead that reached as many as 49 points late in the fourth quarter.
Dakota State never trailed and controlled the game from the opening tip. The Trojans jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes, holding Bellevue without a field goal for nearly four minutes. DSU took a 20-13 lead after the first quarter.
The Trojans' defense set the tone in the second quarter, forcing ten Bellevue turnovers while limiting the Bruins to just six points. Dakota State outscored Bellevue 21-6 in the period and went into halftime with a commanding 41-19 advantage.
Dakota State put the game away in the third quarter, shooting 62.5 percent from the floor (10-of-16 field goals) and knocking down five three-pointers. A 12-0 run midway through the period stretched the lead beyond 30, and the Trojans took a 68-29 cushion into the final quarter (DSU outscored BU 27-10 in the third period).
The Trojans continued to push the pace in the fourth, outscoring Bellevue 21-12 and emptying the bench as the lead ballooned to 49 before settling on the 48-point final margin.
Dakota State finished the night shooting 49.3 percent from the field (49.3 percent) and 36.4 percent from three-point range (12-of-33 3-pointers), while also scoring 44 points in the paint, 18 second-chance points, and 18 fast-break points. Bellevue was limited to 41 points on 15-of-61 shooting (24.6 percent) and went just 4-of-15 from beyond the arc.
Dakota State Individual Leaders
Dakota State's bench accounted for 41 points in the win
Bellevue Individual Leaders
- Zakiyyah Muhammad: 12 points, 6 rebounds
- Emma Russell: 9 points
- Jhanel Coleman: 8 points, 9 rebounds
Team Statistics
| Category |
Bellevue |
Dakota State |
| FG |
15-61 (24.6%) |
35-71 (49.3%) |
| 3PT |
4-15 (26.7%) |
12-33 (36.4%) |
| FT |
7-7 (100%) |
7-8 (87.5%) |
| Rebounds |
40 |
41 |
| Turnovers |
26 |
10 |
| Points in Paint |
16 |
44 |
| Bench Points |
22 |
41 |
Up Next
Dakota State concludes the month of January as they head on the road in North Dakota for a pair of Frontier Conference contests. The Trojans visit Valley City State (N.D.) next Friday evening at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse in Valley City, N.D. DSU then head to Mayville State (N.D.) next Saturday at Lewy Lee Fieldhouse in Mayville, N.D.
The game tips off at 5 p.m. on both nights.
