November 19, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced their third installment (Nov. 11 through Nov. 17) of the 2024-25 Men's Basketball Players-of-the-Week Tuesday.  Valley City State (N.D.) swept the weekly honors as Lamar Grayson was selected as the Offensive Player-of-the-Week, while his teammate Awga Nywesh was chosen as the Defensive Player-of-the-Week.

North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Lamar Grayson – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6'0" – Senior – guard – Richfield, Minn. – Grayson paced Valley City State (N.D.) to a 1-1 record on the week.  He scored a career-high 29 points on his 12-of-18 field goals in an 89-71 win over Viterbo (Wis.), extending the Vikings to their six-game winning streak.  He added 18 points (7-of-14 field goals) in VCSU's 89-67 setback to St. Francis (Ill.).  For the week, Grayson averaged 23.5 points per game, shot 59.4 percent from the field (19-of-32 field goals), and added nine rebounds (4.5 rebounds per game), four assists (2.0 assists per game), and six steals (3.0 steals per game).

North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
Awga Nywesh – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6'4" – Senior – guard – Austin, Minn. – Nywesh helped Valley City State (N.D.) to a 1-1 record on the week in the Viterbo (Wis.) Tournament (defeated host-team Viterbo and lost to St. Francis, Ill.).  He registered two blocks in both games (2.0 blocks per game for the week) and averaged 1.5 steals per game.

Recap from last week's games
Valley City State (N.D.) extended their winning streak to six games after winning the first day of the Viterbo (Wis.) tournament, defeating host-team Viterbo 89-71 on Nov. 15.  The Vikings fell to St. Francis (Ill.) on the second day of the tournament on Nov. 16.  VCSU, who dropped a 96-72 exhibition contest to NCAA Division II Bemidji State (Minn.) on Nov. 13, is 6-1 overall record on the season.

Bellevue (Neb.) also played in the Viterbo Tournament last weekend.  The Bruins fell short to St. Francis 75-72 on Nov. 15 and earned a 72-55 victory over host-team Viterbo on Nov. 16.  BU is 3-2 overall record.

Mayville State (N.D.) kicked off the week with a 112-104 thrilling overtime victory at Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Nov. 11.  The Comets swept a pair of games at home versus Candiana Mennonite, winning 95-61 on Nov. 15 and 94-64 on Nov. 16.  MSU is on a three-game winning streak, lifting their overall record to 5-3.

Dickinson State (N.D.) remained at 2-2 overall record after their 85-54 exhibition setback to NCAA Division I North Dakota on Nov. 9 in Bismarck, N.D.

Dakota State (S.D.) fell to Dordt (Iowa) 89-62 on Nov. 13 at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.  The Trojans earned a 78-76 exhibition victory over NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney on the next day on Nov. 14.  Dakota State is 4-3 overall record.

Jamestown (N.D.) earned an 82-69 victory at NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.) on Nov. 14.  The Jimmies fell to NCAA Division II Sioux Falls (S.D.) 80-69 on Nov. 16 to earn a split for the week.  UJ is 2-3 overall record on the season.

Looking Ahead This Week
Dickinson State (N.D.) played on the road on Monday at Montana State-Northern.

Valley City State (N.D.) is set to play an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Mary (N.D.) Tuesday.  Dakota State (S.D.) also plays an exhibition game at NCAA Division II Northern State (S.D.) on the same night.  Mayville State (N.D.) continues their home stand versus Trinity Bible (N.D.) Tuesday.

Jamestown (N.D.) travels to NCAA Division II Minot State (N.D.) on Wednesday evening.

Bellevue (Neb.) hosts their two-day tournament on Friday and Saturday, including Dakota State.  Both teams will play Nobel (Calif.) and Ozark Christian (Mo.) in the tournament.

Dickinson State (N.D.) travels to Montana Western on Friday evening.

Valley City State returns home Saturday to host Dakota Wesleyan.  Jamestown also returns home on the same day against Northern State.

            Monday's Game
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Montana State-Northern – 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time)

            Tuesday's Games
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ Mary (N.D.) – 7 p.m. EXHIBITION GAME
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Northern State – 7 p.m. EXHIBITION GAME
            Trinity Bible (N.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.

            Wednesday's Game
            Jamestown (N.D.) @ Minot State (N.D.) – 7:30 p.m.

             Friday's Games
            Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic – Bellevue (Neb.)
                        Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Nobel (Calif.) – 5 p.m.
                        Ozark Christian (Mo.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 7 p.m.
            Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Montana Western – 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time)

            Saturday's Games
            Fairfield Inn by Marriott Bruin Classic – Bellevue (Neb.)
                        Dakota State (S.D.) vs. Ozark Christian (Mo.) – 12 p.m.
                        Nobel (Calif.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 2 p.m.
            Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 2 p.m.
            Northern State (S.D.) @ Jamestown (N.D.) – 6 p.m.

NSAA Men's Basketball Conference Standings (prior to Nov. 18 game)
 

School	Overall Record	NSAA Record	Games Behind	Streak
Valley City State (N.D.)	6-1	0-0	----	Lost 1
Mayville State (N.D.)	5-3	0-0	----	Won 3
Bellevue (Neb.)	3-2	0-0	----	Won 1
Dickinson State (N.D.)	2-2	0-0	----	Lost 1
Dakota State (S.D.)	4-3	0-0	----	Lost 2
Jamestown (N.D.)	2-3	0-0	----	Lost 1