November 5, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Star Athletic Association announced their first installment of the 2024-25 Men's Basketball Players-of-the-Week Monday.  This year, the NAIA implemented a new weekly basketball award recognition, Offense and Defense Players-of-the-Week.  Agwa Nywesh of Valley City State (N.D.) was selected as the Offense Player-of-the-Week.  John Evans of Dickinson State (N.D.) was chosen as the Defense Player-of-the-Week. 

North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Offense
Agwa Nywesh – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6'4" – Senior – guard – Austin, Minn. – Nywesh scored 20 points in helping Valley City State (N.D.) to their 85-78 home victory over Briar Cliff (Iowa).  He was 6-of-11 from the field (54.5 percent), including 4-of-7 from the 3-point line.  Nywesh also grabbed five rebounds and stole the ball twice in the game.

North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player-of-the-Week – Defense
John Evans – Dickinson State (N.D.) – 6'4" – Senior – guard – Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada – Evans averaged 3.5 defense rebounds per game, 1.5 steals per game, and 2.0 blocks per game as Dickinson State (N.D.) split a pair of games in the Bellevue (Neb.) Classic.  He grabbed four defense rebounds, stole the ball twice, and registered two blocks, despite a 68-61 setback to Peru State (Neb.).  He followed up with three defense rebounds, two blocks, and a steal in DiSU's 75-73 overtime victory over Oakland City (Ind.). 

Recap from last week's games
Valley City State (N.D.) kicked off their 2024-25 season by going undefeated at home with three wins.  The Vikings swept Brandon (Manitoba) with 121-78 and 117-62 wins on Oct. 26-27.  VCSU followed up with an 85-78 victory over Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Oct. 31.  Valley City State is 3-0 overall record on the season.

Dakota State (S.D.) began their season by going undefeated at home in four games and suffered one setback on the road.  The Trojans rolled past Oak Hills (Minn.) 108-40 on Oct. 24, followed by a 94-66 win over Union (Neb.) on Oct. 27.  DaSU fell short at NCAA Division III Martin Luther (Minn.) 67-63 on Oct. 30 and earned a pair of home wins over Providence (Manitoba) 93-53 on Nov. 1 and 122-72 on Nov. 2.  Dakota State is 4-1 overall record.

Mayville State (S.D.) earned a pair of home victories over Providence (Manitoba) 106-53 on Oct. 26 and 118-60 on Oct. 27.  The Comets fell short to Mount Marty (S.D.) on the road on Nov. 1 by the score of 84-77.  MSU is 2-1 overall record on the season.

Bellevue (Neb.) split their home games in their home tournament last weekend.  The Bruins rolled past Oakland City (Ind.) 101-52 on Nov. 1 and fell short to Peru State (Neb.) 65-51 on Nov. 2.  Bellevue is 1-1 overall record.

Dickinson State (N.D.) also went 1-1 record in the Bellevue Classic, losing to Peru State 68-61 on Nov. 1 and holding off Oakland City 75-73 in overtime on Nov. 2.
Jamestown (N.D.) fell short in their home opener versus Briar Cliff by the score of 72-66 on Nov. 2 (0-1 overall record).

Looking Ahead This Week
Valley City State (N.D.) continues their home stand Wednesday as they host NCAA Division III Minnesota-Morris.  Dakota State (S.D.) heads on the road on the same night, visiting Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.).

Dickinson State (N.D.) is scheduled to play in the College of Idaho tournament, No. 25 ranked Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) on Friday and host-team No. 2 ranked College of Idaho on Saturday.

Mayville State (N.D.) plays in the Northwestern (Iowa) Classic, facing (RV) Dordt (Iowa) on Friday and host-team No. 15 ranked Northwestern (Iowa) on Saturday.  The Comets will play at Briar Cliff (Iowa) on Monday evening.

Jamestown (N.D.) plays in the Montana Tech Classic, taking on Montana Western on Friday and host-team No. 9 ranked Montana Tech on Saturday.

VCSU travels to Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday.  Bellevue (Neb.) hosts Union (Neb.) on the same day.

            Wednesday's Games
            Minnesota-Morris @ Valley City State (N.D.) – 7 p.m.
            Dakota State (S.D.) @ Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 8 p.m.

            Friday's Games
            College of Idaho Classic – Caldwell, Idaho
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) vs. (25) Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) – 3 p.m. (Central Time)/2 p.m. (Mountain Time)
            Northwestern (Iowa) Classic – Orange City, Iowa
                        Mayville State (N.D.) vs. (RV) Dordt (Iowa) – 3 p.m.
            Montana Tech Classic – Butte, Mont.
                        Jamestown (N.D.) vs. Montana Western – 6 p.m. (Central Time)/5 p.m. (Mountain Time)
           
            Saturday's Games
            College of Idaho Classic – Caldwell, Idaho
                        Dickinson State (N.D.) @ (2) College of Idaho – 7 p.m. (Central Time)/6 p.m. (Mountain Time)
            Northwestern (Iowa) Classic – Orange City, Iowa
                        Mayville State (N.D.) @ (15) Northwestern (Iowa) – 4 p.m.
            Montana Tech Classic – Butte, Mont.
                        Jamestown (N.D.) @ (9) Montana Tech – 8 p.m. (Central Time)/7 p.m. (Mountain Time)
            Valley City State (N.D.) @ Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) – 5 p.m.
            Union (Neb.) @ Bellevue (Neb.) – 7:30 p.m.

            Monday's Game
            Mayville State (N.D.) @ Briar Cliff (Iowa) – 6 p.m.

NSAA Men's Basketball Conference Standings
 

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