Blue Hawks kick off season with gutsy win over #16 Kansas Wesleyan

BELLEVUE, NEB. – In a game that saw nine of the ten starters score in double figures, Dickinson State used an 11-5 advantage in three pointers made to take down #16 Kansas Wesleyan to kick off the 2023-2024 season.

Gus Wright led the Blue Hawks with 13 points and four rebounds, while fellow starters Cordell Stinson (12 points and 6 rebounds), John Evans (12 points and 8 rebounds), Kose Egbule (11 points and 7 rebounds), and Trey Stevens (10 points and 5 rebounds) all joined him in double figures. DSU won the rebounding battle 43-37 but turned the ball over 15 times to the Coyotes 12.

The game was close the entire way, with each team never leading by more than six points at any point during the contest. Both squads went exactly 26-63 (41 percent) from the field highlighting how close the game was. Kansas Wesleyan took a five-point lead into the halftime break, as they led 37-32, thanks in large part to going 10-14 from the free throw line to DSU's 2-2.

The game featured 8 ties, but Dickinson State finally broke through with 10:20 left in the game when Aidan Fishell connected from deep for a 53-50 DSU advantage. The Blue Hawks never trailed again, as they withstood every KWU rally, and forced two huge turnovers in the Coyotes final two possessions, to seal the win.

The win over a strong Kansas Wesleyan team that has made back-to-back NAIA National Tournaments is a strong sign for a veteran team looking to get off to a faster start than in years past. Head coach Derek Selvig pointed to their familiarity with each other, and the system, as something that should prove beneficial early in the year as they navigate another early season gauntlet of national tournament contenders.

"I'm so, so proud of our team," said Selvig after the game. "We didn't have the bets focus or toughness in the first half and we cahllenged them at halftime. Credit to them, because they played with a lot of heart and toughness in the second half. That was a very good team we just beat. We have a special group and it's going to be an exciting year."

The Blue Hawks return to action tomorrow, October 28, in an exhibition game against NCAA Division II Chadron State at 1:30pm MT to close out their time in Bellevue.