Bucs Final Home Games Tonight

The Dawson Buccaneers basketball teams will be hosting their final regular season home games tonight at 5:30 and 7:30 pm. Both the women's and men's teams will be honoring their sophomores before their games. Eirini Chatzinikoli and Sule Turkmen are the two Lady Bucs who will be honored while Sam Massaquoi, Jordan Jasper, Seth Amunrud, Kur Maler and Justin Asi are the sophomores being honored for the Bucs. 

Monday night will be Dino Night with the Bucs. Friends of Makoshika will be giving out free hot dogs and popcorn to those in attendance. They will also be throwing out t-shirts into the crowd and have a race between Dex the Dino and Buccy. 

The Buccaneers will have a chance to finish the regular season undefeated at home. Currently they are 13-0 in home games this season. With a win, they would also clinch the regular season Mon-Dak Conference Championship and earn the right to host their postseason regional semifinal game and championship game.  

This group of sophomores has been special for the Buccaneers, winning 50 games already with only 9 losses. They've gone 25-1 at home over their two seasons. Currently the five sophomores have led Dawson to a 25-2 mark overall and 11-0 record in conference play this season. They are ranked 16th in the NJCAA D1 Men's Basketball Media Poll and 23rd in the NJCAA D1 Men's Basketball Poll. Their 25 wins are tied for the most in the country with #1 ranked Snow College. The Bucs are also #1 in the country in field goals (1015), #2 in points per game (100.6), #3 in turnovers forced per game (20.1), and #7 in field goal percentage (51.2%). They also rank in the top twenty in 3's made (252), 3 point percentage (37.7%), offensive rebounds per game (14.7), offensive efficiency and net efficiency. 

"This is a truly exceptional group of sophomores who have already achieved great things, but have even greater things ahead of them here at Dawson and beyond," shared Dawson Coach Joe Peterson. "They have obviously been great on the court the past two years, but they also have showed great character, have made significant contributions to our college and community, and have demonstrated outstanding leadership. When we look back at this group decades from now, they will be remembered as one of the best classes in Buccaneer history for what they accomplished individually and collectively while wearing the red and black. I spent time this morning thanking God for bringing these guys to Dawson and for giving me the opportunity to get to know them and coach them." 

Sam Massaquoi is a 5'10 guard averaging 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in conference play while shooting 53% from the field and 56% from the 3-point line. He has scored in double digits in five of his list six games and had recent games with 10 rebounds and 9 rebounds.   

Jordan Jasper has been injured for the past six weeks, but during the first half of the season the 6'0 guard averaged 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 52% from the field and 41% from the 3-point line. He was named Conference Player of the Week after he excelled in the first two conference games in January before getting hurt. 

Seth Amunrud was named the Conference Tip-off Tournament MVP and has won the Conference Player of the Week Award 3 times already. The 6'4 guard is averaging 20.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 57% from the field, 48% from 3-point range and 88% from the charity stripe.  Those numbers place him 3rd in the conference in scoring, 4th in field goal percentage, and 1st in 3's made, 3 point percentage and free throw percentage. He has also made the 4th most free throws and the 2nd most field goals. As far as ball-control goes, Amunrud ranks 1st in steals per game, 2nd in assists per game, and 5th in assist to turnover ratio. 

Kur Maler is averaging 7.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. The 6'9 forward from Melbourne, Australia uses his length and athleticism to impact the game by running the floor, flying around on defense and protecting the rim.

Justin Asi is a fan favorite because of the effort he plays with and the unique skills and athleticism he brings to the game. The 6'6 forward is averaging 21.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in conference games and 18.5 points and 6.0 rebounds overall for the season while shooting 55% from the field and 42% from 3-point range. He has been named Conference Player of the Week twice. During conference play he is 3rd in scoring and 4th in rebounding. He leads the conference in points per 40 minutes (35.5). He is 4th in rebounds per game and 2nd in offensive rebounds per game. Asi is also 9th in field goal percentage. 

After tonight's games, the Bucs and Lady Bucs will end the regular season next weekend with games at Williston State College and Dakota College at Bottineau.