Defensive Player of the Week: Brayden Pankonen, Dakota State (S.D.)
Pankonen, a junior guard from Dell Rapids, S.D., was selected as Defensive Player-of-the-Week.
Pankonen averaged 2.5 steals per game as Dakota State (S.D.) closed their regular season schedule with a 2-0 record. He stole the ball two times in Trojans’ 84-74 win over Dickinson State (N.D.). He held the Blue Hawks’ leading scorer to 12 points on 1-of-6 3-point field goal shooting and turned him three times.
Pankonen followed with three steals in Dakota State’s 86-72 win over Bismarck State (N.D.).
These were done helping Dakota State propelling to their most wins (18) since 2016, most wins in the regular season since 2013, best regular season winning percentage since 2013, most regular season wins since 2013, most conference wins (13) in men’s basketball history.
This is Pankonen’s first career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference Player of the Week award.