Dawson Blows out United Tribes to Set up Showdown with NDSCS

Pictured: Levi O'Brien

Feb 4, 2024

On Sunday afternoon in Glendive, The Dawson Bucs started hot and never let up, routing the visiting United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds 108-68. It is the seventh straight year Dawson has won 20 games. The win also sets up a crucial showdown with North Dakota State College of Science on Monday night. NDSCS is leading the Mondak Conference with a 14-1 record and Dawson is right behind with a 13-2 record. They split their two earlier games, so Monday night's game will give one of the teams a huge tiebreaking advantage by winning two of the three head to head match-ups.

In Sunday's game against the Thunderbirds, Dawson jumped out to a 27-10 advantage in the opening ten minutes. At the half, they held a 56-27 lead. The Bucs shot 55% from the field, 40% from the 3-point line and 100% from the free throw line in the first half while holding the visitors to 19% shooting. Seth Amunrud led the way with 12 points. In those first twenty minutes, Dawson's bench outscored United Tribes 29-0 and they outscored them in the paint 28-4.

The hosts didn't let up after the break, going on a quick 15-6 run in the first five minutes to build their lead up to 40 points. The Bucs maintained at least a 35 point lead the rest of the way, and at one point were up by 46 points. Dawson shot over 50% for the game and dominated the glass 64-31. They held a huge advantage in the paint, 68-18 and Dawson scored 61 points off the bench.

"We did exactly what we needed to tonight," shared Bucs Coach Joe Peterson. "We shared the ball, locked up on defense and controlled the boards. It would have been easy to overlook our game today and start thinking about tomorrow's game, but our guys stayed laser focus and gave their best effort tonight."

Seven Bucs finished in double figures. Starters Justin Asi, Roniel Oguekwe and Seth Amunrud all had 14 points. Jordan Jasper had 13 points. Demetric Kindle scored 12. Kur Maler finished with 11 points and a game high 10 rebounds. Aleksis Nika had 11 points and 9 rebounds.

The showdown for first place in the Mon-Dak with NDSCS will be at 7:30 pm Monday night in Glendive.