Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Madison, S.D. – Dickinson State improved to 13-8 overall and 8-1 in the North Star Athletic Association with a 63-58 road victory over Dakota State on Saturday evening. The Blue Hawks relied on strong defense and timely scoring to hold off the Trojans, who dropped to 8-12 overall and 1-7 in conference play.
The game remained tight throughout, with Dickinson State holding a slim 31-29 lead at halftime. The Blue Hawks shot 36.4% in the opening half, including 45.5% from beyond the arc. Kose Egbule led the way early, tallying nine of his game-high 18 points in the first half. Dakota State struggled from three-point range, converting just 23.1% of their attempts before the break.
In the second half, Dickinson State continued to control the boards, finishing with a 47-43 rebounding advantage. Cordell Stinson was a dominant presence, grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds to go along with three assists. The Blue Hawks capitalized on their defensive effort, scoring 11 points on fast breaks and limiting Dakota State to just 20.6% shooting from three-point range for the game.
Trey Stevens contributed 15 points for the Blue Hawks, including several critical baskets to maintain their lead in the final minutes. John Evans chipped in 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while Egbule sealed the victory with clutch free throws down the stretch, going 5-of-6 from the line in the second half.
The Trojans were led by Lukas Morgan, who scored 15 points and grabbed three rebounds. Tyler Beckwith added 10 points, while Taine Mitchell chipped in eight points and six rebounds. Despite shooting just 32.8% from the field, Dakota State stayed competitive by forcing nine turnovers and receiving strong contributions from their bench, which outscored Dickinson State's reserves 22-16.
With six ties and six lead changes throughout the contest, the game was decided in the closing minutes. A late layup from Stevens extended the Blue Hawks' lead to five, and Egbule's free throws in the final seconds put the game out of reach. Dickinson State's defense held firm, allowing just 29 second-half points and forcing the Trojans into tough shots in key moments.
