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Jimmies hang on to defeat Dickinson State in State Farm A.I.I. Men’s Basketball semifinals
February 25, 2012
MADISON, S.D. – In the battle of former Dakota Athletic Conference foes Saturday night at DSU Fieidhouse in the 2012 State Farm Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) semifinals, top-seeded Jamestown earned an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament by defeating fourth-seed Dickinson State 71-70.
Jamestown, No. 8 in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basket ball national poll, improved their overall record to 25-5. Dickinson State ended their season with a 12-18 record.
The Blue Hawks raced to a ten-point lead (13-3) in the first four minutes and four seconds.
Jamestown answered back with a 20-10 run to tie the game at 23-23 with 7:17 left before intermission.
The Jimmies grabbed a 37-32 halftime lead.
JC extended their lead to 10 points (46-36) by opening the second-half with a 9-2 run. 
The Blue Hawks mounted a rally to regain their lead at 59-58 with less than seven minutes left in the game.
Dickinson State fell short as Tevin Hurd missed a long 3-pointer shot as the time expired.
Bryon Jones led the Jimmies with 18 points. He dished out five assists and stole the ball four times. Travis Burley recorded a double-double of 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. BJ Mertens and Davon Thomas each added 10 points.
Matthew Lee had a game-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Dickinson State. Casper Hesseldal added 11 points and nine rebounds. Hurd had eight points and dished out eight assists.
The Blue Hawks shot 45.5 percent from the field (25-for-55) compared to the Jimmies' 43.1 percent (25-for-58). Dickinson State drained 12 3-pointers in 25 attempts (48 percent), while the Jimmies were 6-for-18 from the 3-point arc.
JC won the rebounding battle 39-34.
Jamestown will face Dakota State in the State Farm A.I.I. National Qualifying Men's Basketball Tournament. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. or 30 minutes after the completion of the women's championship game at DSU Fieldhouse.
Nick Huntimer, Dakota State University Sports Information Director
