Dickinson, N.D. – Dickinson State got back in the win column with a thrilling 80-74 overtime victory over in-state rival Valley City State. John Evans scored 25 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead the way for DSU.

Dickinson State came out of the gates firing, racing out to a 20-6 lead in the first six and a half minutes of the first half. From there, however, VCSU started to chip away, coming all the way back to take a 29-28 lead with 2:39 left in the half. The Vikings extended their lead to four at the half, capping a 28-10 run after the early barrage from DSU.

In the second half the teams battled back-and-forth for all 20 minutes. After VCSU scored the first basket of the half to extend their lead to 36-30, the Blue Hawks answered with an 8-0 run, capped by an Evans three, to take their first lead of the half. The lead would trade hands four more times, as Evans again gave DSU the lead with a three at the 2:02 mark of the second half. VCSU answered with a three of their own to take a 66-64 advantage, but two Evans free throws knotted the game at 66-66 with 1:30 to play.

Both teams had multiple chances down the stretch, but neither side could get anything to fall as Kose Egbule absorbed a lot of contact on a layup attempt at the buzzer but could not draw the foul.

In the overtime period, DSU jumped out to a 69-66 lead on yet another big three from Evans and Cordell Stinson and Trey Stevens knocked down triples of their own to help the Blue Hawks build a 75-68 lead three and a half minutes into the extra frame.

VCSU never truly threatened the rest of the way as DSU was able to knock down their free throws to ice the game and earn the victory.

Egbule had another terrific all-around game for DSU, scoring 10 points to go along with 14 rebounds and 8 assists, while Trey Stevens poured in 16 points despite a rare cold shooting night for the starting guard.