Blue Knights Basketball Advances to NJCAA DII National Championship

March 15–19, 2022 • Mary Miller Center • Danville, Illinois

The men’s basketball team at Dakota County Technical College has advanced to the 2021–2022 NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship March 15–19, 2022, at the Mary Miller Center on the Danville Area Community College campus in Danville, Illinois.

The #14 seed Blue Knights (18–8) are playing the #3 seed Sullivan Community College (SUNY Sullivan) Generals (26–3) in Game 2 of the national tournament’s first round at 11 a.m. CDT Tuesday, March 15. Live statistics will be available at the start of the event.

DCTC advanced to the nationals by beating the Central Community College Columbus Raiders 71–67 at home March 5, 2022, to win the NJCAA DII Men’s Basketball North District Playoff. The team defeated the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds 94–93 in an away game February 27 to win the NJCAA Region XIII Championship.

Head Coach Peter Olafeso

The Blue Knights rolled past the Dakota College at Bottineau Lumberjacks 101–64 the day before and also away to win their Region XIII semi-final game.

Head Coach Peter Olafeso guided the team to a 21–10 record, Region XIII Championship, North District Playoff victory, and an appearance in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament in the 2019–2020 season—his first as the team’s head coach. The tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The guys were locked in all season,” Coach Olafeso said, “and it was no different during the Region XIII Tournament. We had one goal and that was to get back to national tournament. I’m so happy for these guys and the recruitment opportunities playing in the national tournament will bring.”

Blue Knights basketball plays home games in the Activities building gym on the campus of Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. DCTC features six NJCAA sports teams, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, men’s baseball, and women’s softball.