Panthers Jump Past Blue Knights

Rosemount, Minn. – On Wednesday night, a back and forth game that had 17 different lead changes saw Dakota County Technical College (#17) come up a point short in a home loss to Ellsworth Community College.  After the Ellsworth Panthers held a 47-40 halftime lead, DCTC went on a 15-2 run to take a 55-49 lead.  The teams exchanged baskets the rest of the way and would see Ellsworth heading back to Iowa with a 79-78 win. 

Nick Sabatke  (Sophomore Eagan) led the way for the Blue Knights with 24 points which included six three pointers. Sam Burt (Sophomore Apple Valley) had 19 pts and 11 rebounds while Keenen Bellaphant (Freshman Oakdale) came in off the bench sinking 14 points and stealing the ball three times.

Head Coach Ben Davis commented after the game; "That loss is a tough one to swallow, our guys competed really hard for 40 minutes and would have been great to come out with a win."

DCTC, ranked 17th in the latest national poll, now sites at 18-6 on the season while Ellsworth improves to 13-11. Up next for DCTC is a Saturday trip to Northern Michigan to take on Gogebic Community College, a team DCTC will pay in the regional playoffs later in the month.  Earlier in the season DCTC defeated Gogebic 81-65 in St. Paul. DCTC returns home in a week for a Wednesday night match up with Northwestern University JV with tipoff at 7pm.