Sagan Osborne - Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Dickinson, N.D. - Dickinson State improved to 10-7 overall and maintained a perfect 5-0 record in North Star Athletic Association play with a commanding 85-75 victory over Bellevue University on Saturday evening in Dickinson. A dominant first half and timely execution in the second helped the Blue Hawks fend off a late Bruins charge.
The Blue Hawks wasted no time establishing control, opening the game on a 20-7 run. A balanced offensive effort saw five different players score in the first ten minutes, as Dickinson State's efficient ball movement produced quality looks from all areas of the floor. By halftime, the Blue Hawks held a commanding 45-23 lead, shooting 53.7% from the field and hitting 42.3% of their shots from beyond the arc.
The second half brought a more resilient Bellevue squad, as the Bruins outscored Dickinson State 52-40 in the final 20 minutes. Led by RJ Smith's team-high 14 points and 7 rebounds, the Bruins closed the deficit to single digits late in the game. However, Dickinson State capitalized on its early cushion, with timely free-throw shooting and a composed approach to breaking Bellevue's pressure.
John Evans delivered a standout performance for the Blue Hawks, tallying a team-high 17 points while converting 8-of-10 free throws. Jaiden Wright added 14 points off the bench, showcasing his sharpshooting ability by going 2-for-3 from three-point range and a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe. Cordell Stinson chipped in with 12 points, including two crucial three-pointers to halt Bellevue's second-half momentum.
Defensively, Dickinson State was anchored by its ability to force 12 turnovers, which translated into 18 points on the other end. The Blue Hawks also limited Bellevue to just six second-chance points despite being outrebounded 34-28.
Head coach Derek Selvig praised his team's effort in the tightly contested matchup. "Awesome focus and attention to detail from our guys. These back-to-back games in conference are brutal, and our guys bought into the game plan and executed it. It's really hard to play with a lead in college basketball, especially against a well-coached team. But we weathered the storm. Very happy for our guys."
Bellevue, which fell to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in the NSAA, was paced by JJ Montgomery's 13 points, while Caleb Chiang and Smith combined for 22 points off the bench. Despite their second-half surge, the Bruins were unable to overcome their cold start and missed opportunities at the free-throw line, shooting just 64.7%.