MADISON, S.D. -- Bismarck State men's basketball closed out the regular season Saturday night at the DSU Fieldhouse, falling to Dakota State (S.D.) 86-72 in a game that was more competitive than the final score indicated.
The Mystics kept it close throughout, shooting 50% from the field for the game and pulling within four points on multiple occasions in the second half before Dakota State's Lukas Morgan took over. Morgan finished with a game-high 34 points on 11-of-14 shooting, adding 10-of-12 from the free throw line to carry the Trojans down the stretch.
BSC performed well offensively in the first half despite trailing 44-32 at the break, connecting on 52.4% from the field and five of nine three-point attempts. Kamayua Black Jr. provided a massive spark off the bench, scoring all 10 of his first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting including two triples, as the Mystics stayed within striking distance throughout the opening 20 minutes.
The Mystics came out firing in the second half, with Alex Proctor drilling a three-pointer and then converting a fast-break dunk off a steal on back-to-back possessions to pull within seven at 37-44. Houston Davis followed with a three of his own to cut the deficit to four at 40-44, and the Mystics kept the margin in single digits until Morgan began to take over in the final eight minutes.
Davis led BSC with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Jah Gulley added 14 points and five assists in 34 minutes. Black Jr. finished with 17 points off the bench on 6-of-9 shooting, providing the Mystics' most efficient offensive performance of the night. Proctor chipped in 11 points and three steals.
BSC finishes the regular season 1-27 overall and 1-21 in Frontier Conference play. Despite a difficult year in the win column, the Mystics showed continued growth in their performances down the stretch, closing the regular season with back-to-back outings of 49% shooting or better. The program now turns its attention to the offseason ahead of their second year in the NAIA competing against four-year competition, and the move to the new Bavendick Center.
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