January 9, 2026

BISMARCK, N.D. – Dakota State (S.D.) controlled both halves to claim a 71–55 Frontier conference road victory over Bismarck State (N.D.) Friday night at the BSC Armory.  The Trojans shot 50.8 percent overall from the field (30-of-59 field goals) and led as many as 26 points in the second half.

The Trojans snapped their two-game losing skid to improve to 12–3 overall and 7–3 record in Frontier conference play.  DSU matched their wins total from last season.  The Mystics remained winless this season with 0–16 overall record and 0–10 in league action.

How it happened
Dakota State built a 13-4 lead early in the game after a layup by Desman Botts (assisted by Brayden Pankonen) with fourteen minutes and forty-seven seconds on the clock.  The Trojans' lead ballooned to 33-21 by halftime, holding the Mystics to 36 percent shooting (9-of-25 field goals).  DSU shot 51.9 percent from the field in the first twenty minutes (14-of-27 field goals).

After opening the second half with a quick bucket by Tyler Beckwith (assisted by Aiden Jensen), Dakota State used a decisive stretch midway through the frame to push the margin to as many as 26 points.  The Trojans used a 21-7 outburst, capped by Nathan Ojukwu's 3-pointer (assisted by Pankonen) for the game's biggest lead at 54-28 with 12:37 remaining.

Dakota State maintained their double-digit lead in the final twenty minutes of the game, outscoring Bismarck State 38-34.  DSU shot 50 percent from the field (16-of-32 field goals) in the second half compared to BSC 48 percent (12-of-25 field goals).

By the numbers
Eleven different DSU players scored in the game.  Jensen paced a balanced offensive attack with 13 points (5-of-8 field goals), while Ojukwu added 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and T. Beckwith chipped in 11 points. Ryan Beckwith scored eight points, and Brayden Pankonen contributed six points with four assists.

Taine Mitchell pulled down nine rebounds to go with five points, as the Trojans finished with 21 bench points. Nolan Segner added six points. 

Houston Davis led Bismarck State with 16 points. Alex Proctor and William Ware added nine points apiece, while Tristin Davis contributed eight points for the Mystics.

Dakota State was 30-of-59 field goals overall in the game (50.8 percent) compared to Bismarck State 21-of-50 field goals (42 percent).

The Trojans outscored the Mystics 25-4 in points off turnovers.

Up next
Dakota State concludes their season-long six-game Frontier Conference road trip Saturday evening, visiting Dickinson State (N.D.).  The game is set for 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time) in Dickinson, N.D.