DICKINSON, N.D. – Following a championship sweep in their final year in the North Star Athletic Association, the Dickinson State men's basketball team enters the 2025-26 season with a retooled roster and a new conference home. Under sixth-year head coach Derek Selvig, the Blue Hawks are set to compete in the newly expanded Frontier Conference, where they were picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.
Last season, DSU went 19-11 overall and 12-3 in conference play, capturing both the NSAA regular-season and tournament championships to earn an automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament. Now, with significant roster turnover and elevated competition across the board, the Blue Hawks are focused on building chemistry and continuing their winning ways.
"We are very excited for this season," Selvig said. "Guys have been working extremely hard which is awesome to see. A lot of new faces this year so we expect it to take some time to gel. But we are confident we have a competitive group. The Frontier Conference is going to be very tough, but our guys are up for the challenge."
DSU must replace three standout guards, Kose Egbule (Third Team All-American), John Evans, and Trey Stevens, who were All-Conference performers in 2024-25. In their absence, senior forward Cordell Stinson, a Second Team All-NSAA selection and All-Defensive honoree, returns to anchor the lineup after averaging 9.9 points per game last season.
Other key returners include senior guard Jake Daniel and sophomore forward Weston Zacher, while a deep recruiting class features impact transfers Quincy Linton (South Puget Sound CC), Isaiah Vargas (Highline CC), and Nate Visentin (Spokane CC).
The Blue Hawks begin the season Oct. 24 against Eastern Oregon in Butte, Montana, as part of a stretch of six consecutive road or neutral-site contests, including stops in Nebraska and Idaho, to open the season. Frontier Conference play begins Nov. 21 when DSU hosts Carroll College at Scott Gymnasium. The Frontier slate features 22 conference games, with the Blue Hawks set to host Carroll (Nov. 21), Rocky Mountain (Nov. 22), and Bismarck State (Nov. 28) in a key early stretch.
The Frontier Conference will award two automatic bids to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament, one to the regular-season champion and one to the postseason tournament winner. The tournament begins with opening rounds on March 13–14, with qualifying teams advancing to the final site in Kansas City, Missouri, March 19–24.
Key Dates
- Oct. 24 – Season opener vs. Eastern Oregon (Neutral, Butte, Mont.)
- Oct. 31 – vs. Midland University (Fremont, Neb.)
- Nov. 7–8 – Fairfield Inn & Suites Classic (Bellevue, Neb.)
- Nov. 14–15 – Clearwater River Casino Classic (Lewiston, Idaho)
- Nov. 21 – Frontier Conference opener vs. Carroll (Home)
- Feb. 21 – Regular season finale at Bellevue
- Feb. 27–Mar. 2 – Frontier Conference Tournament
Players to Watch
